"Defenders of the realm
Peace be on you
Our proud spirits will
Not be subdued”

-Syrian National Anthem

soft white syrian jasmine blooms

and showers the land

where my mother lived diagonally

across the street from my father

its scent flutters delicately in the air

over sidewalks covered

in lopsided stone

we used to whisper

playfully

to one another

us sisters

insults about Assad

man who insists

he rule above

a country of graves

who chases

after the setting sun

our frightened young words

now storm

the country

while thousands of claps

echo in swollen alleyways

and the people will march

for all the days stolen from the dead

city that takes its time

damascus

the world is asking for your news

carrier of old memories

place where we used to

kick soccer balls

summertime

between passing cars

and race to buy snacks

from shop owner who insisted

we pay him back later

each time

syria

is it true that your army is full of heartless killers?

daraa’s streets

are alive today with running voices

crowded with

live bodies

fighting tanks

live bodies

fighting bullets

bodies

lying lifeless on the ground

fighting Assad’s legitimacy

while others have

five more minutes

left

and run

I hear

some soldiers

are still switching sides

gun shots pop, pound

and heartbeats shudder

the old man’s camera

shakes

as he watches criminals

fire death

into the sky

and posts it online

after the explosion

the earth rattled

so they shouted:

“god is greater”

who built

this earth

to shake

showing bravery so dazzling

that casts its light over light from the sun

defenders of the realm

peace be on you

your proud spirits will

not be subdued

you will bring the lion to its knees

with freedom soaking in your eyes

and smiles that tell of triumphs