West Of The West Bank Poem by Dann Thomas

On a stretch of land with boundaries that shift
With the desert sand thru' the hour glass of fear.
Claimed by warriors for their own respective Gods
The land won with blood, but lost in tears.

Two little boys plod through the deserted soil
The same ground that stood many a brave man
The same soil where the blood of an unknown,
Of the conqueror and the conquered ran.

These two friends look toward a dipping horizon
Where every morning bursts with the promise unsold
Riches of happiness ride with the bursting of night
To set in that distant line when hopes' embers grow cold.

A thorn he runs down in his hand till blood made a point
The other, in reply, with that thorn bursts his skin
And both of them stare at the others wound
Smiling that the colour of pain remains akin.

Happily climbing down that hill of ignorance
Hands entwined with the blood from two hearts
Split for their own Gods- the One with many a name
Who gave the dawn of time its first start.

Two friends bid farewell as day gives way to night
Strengthened by a bond that a thorn did weave
Ishmael heads east to hark the call for Maghrib
While Isaac heads the other way for the Maariv.



Maghrib- The Maghrib prayer, prayed just after sunset, is the fourth of five formal daily prayers (salat) performed by practicing Muslims.
Maariv- Maariv or Ma'ariv also known as Arvit is a Jewish prayer service held in the evening.