Day 963

for Menatela Abu Libna, age 6

A little bird
from the birds of Paradise,
her grandmother called her.
Now she is dead. Dead
at six years old. Murdered
just hours ago
while playing in front
of her house. Little girl,
little bird, are you
in Paradise now
with other birds? Where,
now, will we find
your singing? Your
joyful mischievous flitting
from place to place? Who
will come to sit
on the arm
of your grandmother’s
chair and chatter
to her at the end
of day? Little bird,
little delicate fledgling,
where have you flown? Who
will know who you are? Who,
now, will take care of you?