Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


CARGO MOVING TO GAZA (1988) by MARVIN BELL

Poem Explanation Poet Analysis

First Line: A TREE DONATED YEARS BACK STRUGGLES
Subject(s): ARABS; ISRAEL (STATE); LIFE; MIDDLE EAST - CONFLICTS; ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT;

A tree donated years back struggles
through incursions of pavement where supplies
are a reason for trucks, and armies
a cause for things. All things have reasons.
Here, they lie at odd angles
to existence. From Space you
might see only rubble in this place, and be
gloomy over peace. On Earth you
might see it the same. Arab and Israeli,
dining on reasons, weighing what life is worth,
deciding at the end of a gunsight, --
what was a vision has become a stare.


Used with the permission of Copper Canyon Press, P.O. Box 271, Port Townsend, WA
98368-0271, www.cc.press.org



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