A day in Gaza (Rewrite)

A day in Gaza

A boy crouched low, a rock to throw,
Waits patiently in silent wait,
The bullets whistling as they go,
Indent a mark on rotting slate?

Israeli soldiers weary eyes,
Peer out, amidst the sullen grey,
To count a hit, to hear the cries,
For them it’s just another day.

Christ died outside Jerusalem,
Another life, another time,
So why in God’s name punish them?
Their lives determined by your crime!

As darkness falls and ends the day,
Perpetual soldiers never sleep,
Their rifles seek an easy prey,
Along the bank their secrets keep.

Despair! the rock it leaves his hand,
A shot rings out, the Earth stands still,
The boy lay strewn across the sand,
And will be buried on the hill.

P Harvey
23/06/11