by Moshe Benarroch

I have walked your cities
but you have not listened
You talked to me of
Mercy
I cried your streets
I shred my clothes
I tore my skin apart
but you did not see my blood
You were drinking your wine
inside your houses talking
about God, Atheism and Justice
Oh people
I have walked your sidewalks unshod
till my feet were flesh
till there was no more blood
still you couldn't touch my pain
and my joy
still you didn't hear my silence.

© 1999 Moshe Benarroch
Moshe was born in Morocco, and emigrated to Israel in 1972. His poetry is published in Hebrew, Spanish and English.