Dying Gazan Child

A blinding light, and then once more upon
The groaning, a mind cascading, so far the

Ancient sun; crushed beneath the maws
Of preternatural horror, moons dissolving,

Unwept the boundless stars. Evanescing of
The air, silent screams upon the half-light,

A lone book burning, wistful tears of the crimson
Tallow: and my only companion Death’s

Gelid hand. And then once more upon the
Gloaming: racing over the sparkling mesmeric

Sands, ebbing were the waters; two birds
Dallying, mares surrounding – waning nights

Of the ghostly shadow; indomitable stood
The sea of adamantine towers: an exquisite

Apple, eating ful by the fire, mother’s hallowed
Love. Primordial was the chalice on the

Shores of Palestine, the dance of dappled
Dreams, a final breath that kissed the dawn:

Unto the last song sighing beyond the empyreal
Azure sky – and then the shroud of silence

David Penner’s articles on politics and health care have appeared in Dissident Voice, CounterPunch, Global Research, The Saker blog, OffGuardian and KevinMD; while his poetry can be found at Dissident Voice, Mad in America, and redtailedhawk.substack.com. Also a photographer, he is the author of three books of portraiture: Faces of The New Economy, Faces of Manhattan Island, and Manhattan Pairs. He can be reached at 321davidadam@gmail.com. Read other articles by David.