Dearest Palestine Poem by Richie Duprey

Dearest Palestine,

I know it's been a while since I sent my last letter,
But know that I never stop thinking of you, I hope you are better.
For the last time we talked, you broke down and cried,
You shocked me with stories of how your children had died.

You sent me a photo and your face it had aged,
But that's to be expected when you're abused and rampaged.
Your eyes, they were bruised and your cheeks, they were scarred,
How could they treat you with such disregard?

It took me a moment to gather myself,
As I glanced from your photo to the one of my Mam on the shelf.
For she had the same look - that dead-eyed, blank stare,
For her world too had crumbled down with the same death and despair.

Our occupiers still hold onto a part of our land,
They still scare our families and put innocent men on remand.
We've seen the same tactics deployed by those who oppress,
They hurt you like they've hurt us. Oh Lord, what a mess.

You stand tall for the rest of your kids, so loyal and true.
The freedom they seek seems so far from world view.
When the world covers their eyes and withdraws their hand,
I want you to know you've got friends in Ireland.

I want you to know, my oldest true friend,
In times of great pain, on us you can depend.
We want to help set you free from oppression and pain,
We'll shout from the rooftops, we'll go against the grain!

For you are our brothers, our sisters and our allies,
A similar struggle for years, we both did empathise.
I know you're in pain and you bare scars on your skin,
But this is temporary, my dear friend, for justice and freedom, you will win.

Lots of love,
Ireland