This is the text of the entire poem written in memory of the dead children of Syria, extracts of which I have used for my video Children of Syria
Be still my heart.
The death of infants is upon me
The death of children is upon me
The terrible death of the young is upon me.
Be still my soul
Do not tremble shaking the foundations of the world.
Stand still
Hush
Hush in the presence of the ghostly procession
Of the little children
Some pierced in the heart
Some tortured
Some slain
Some eyeless
I feel damned
I feel my complicity
For having failed to shield and protect.
Can I wash my hands clean of this crime?
I am shaking
For the death of children has overtaken me
I have blood on my hands
We have blood on our hands
Shall we ever be forgiven?
When you cried mama
Where was I
Where were the mothers of the world?
When I heard you cry mama
I raised my eyes to the crimson sunset of blood and cried
See, see where Christ’s blood streams in the firmament!
Be still be still
For the blood of children is all around me
The man-made darkness engulfs us
O where were we
Hush
For the childish ghostly procession is upon us
Let the star of love rise and redeem us
Peace
By Alisar Iram
Our morning star
©Alisar Iram
alisariram 