A tribute to endurance

People grow weary
year in and year out
justifying their existence
since 1948;
living and breathing
an air and space denied,
polluted
with racism and hatred
so decried!
And yet there are some
who won't be denied
their inherent right
of birth, life and death
of dignity and all the rest
in their homeland
of the heart;
You can erase the bricks and mortar,
the tree, the orchard and the olive
the school, the house next door,
my neighbour;
but you will never win the battle of
the land, Oh Israel, because I am man, like you,
and hearts and minds remain
forever entwined with the
soul and being of Palestine. J