In Gaza - A Poem by Michael Rosen

Michael Rosen wrote this reflection on childhood in Gaza during the Israel / Gaza war of 2008 / 2009, known as Operation Cast Lead', the 22 day war in which over 1,400 Palestinians died, many of them children.  The poem first appeared in the journal of the Institute for Policy Studies on January 16, 2009.

In Gaza, children,
you learn that the sky kills
and that houses hurt.
You learn that your blanket is smoke
and breakfast is dirt.

You learn that cars do somersaults
clothes turn red,
friends become statues,
bakers don’t sell bread.

You learn that the night is a gun,
that toys burn
breath can stop,
it could be your turn.

You learn:
if they send you fire
they couldn’t guess:
not just the soldier dies —
it’s you and the rest.

Nowhere to run,
nowhere to go,
nowhere to hide
in the home you know.

You learn
that death isn’t life,
that air isn’t bread,
the land is for all.
You have the right to be
Not Dead.

Michael Rosen is a British poet, author and activist. He became the first poet to serve as the Children's Laureate, a role he held from 2007 to 2009. Rosen's writing often tackles themes of war and violence, particularly as they impact children. "In Gaza" can be seen as a continuation of this theme, echoing works like "Don't Mention the Children," which also addresses the loss of innocent life in conflict. See also https://www.michaelrosen.co.uk/about/  and his blog https://www.michaelrosen.co.uk/blog/