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“Cry my beloved country” *
By Raja Mattar Cry for my non-existent childhood Cry for my stolen youth Cry for my uprooted olive trees Cry for my village which lost its name Cry for the maimed children Cry for the widowed mothers And cry for the raped land. A land I tended with my tears
Yes, cry, as I am crying For non-caring kin Yes, cry as I am crying For non-caring humanity Cry because I stopped crying I have no more tears to spare I need them for my children’s graves
My children have gone to war They will not come back alive They think their blood will bring back the olive trees They think that their blood will wipe out the infamy Of kin who did not raise a finger Of humanity which did not utter a word To protect my olive trees
* Theme inspired by the title of the South African writer Alan Paton’s book “Cry the Beloved Country”
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