We Are Both Called Violent

when you raid and I resist

you invade and occupy my land

I resist

we are both called violent

you burn my trees and kill my sheep

I resist

we are both called violent

you wield a gun to steal my house

my brother takes the gun to drive you off

you shoot him and our cousins too

we are both called violent

you kidnap my dad and beat my mom

with your aim now on my daughter

I stay silent

so no one calls us anything

you come back for her

I have nothing left

nothing to lose

I resist

we are both called violent

when asked about “the conflict”

the politicians speak

from their moral high ground

no blood stains their suits

they say they oppose violence

and we are both called violent

so they fund your defenses

against our defiance

our unbroken resistance

our fearless attempts

to continue existing

when you raid

and I resist

your violence

Loved ones grieve the Palestinian martyrs who inspired this poem
as human rights groups denounce escalating terrorism
from illegal Israeli settlers in the West Bank
(photo by Jaafar Ashtiyeh for AFP).