on bread

visit Oradour-sur-Glane to see
a town’s remains
places of worship burnt out
even the bakeries razed
who can plan and execute
such systematic revenge?
who thought such cruelty
would return live on rolling news
while the world switches channels
shielding eyes this time
from the smiting
Star of David glows in anger
becomes a searing firebrand
stamped on the flesh of children

~

n..b. Last Saturday a man in this city was driving around with the Star of David fluttering from his car aerial, will he be so proud of it this weekend?

The ancient crooked cross, once symbolic of good fortune in pre-Christian Europe, an ancient Sanskrit image representing the movement of the Sun across the sky, now carries the darkest meaning. How will people respond to sight of The Star of David in decades to come?

CLP 28/10/2023