
Location: Gaza, Palestine a week after the ceasefire Photograph: Duha Hasan
Poem: “Balsam"
Eva Abu Mariam reciting her poem titled “Balsam” in Gaza
Balsam
In Arabic Balsam means anything that eases the pain, softens the heart, and heals the body
Rise from death, you alone,
Rise.
Walk me
through the heavy days of war
Walk me
Through its fog
Be my balm of the soul
And when the final whistle blows
Be far above this ugliness
Leave this world
Arise from its cruelty
To your heavenly sky...
To your heavenly sky.
(To Balsam who left me too early)