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Arguments Against the Bombing | |
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consider the infinite fragility
of an infant’s skull consider a delicate porcelain
bowl consider that beneath the din
of explosions consider your own sky on fire consider the faces you do not
see how in these words |
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Poem by
Lisa Suhair Majaj.
First published in Al Jadid, Winter 1998.
Illustration by Emily Johns
Vocabulary
consider: think about
fragility (n); fragile (adj): something that breaks very easily
porcelain: fine, high- quality china, very thin
din: a lot of loud, unpleasant noises
collateral damage: ordinary people who are killed in war.
['Collateral damage' is a phrase used by the military so that we don't think about the fact that military action kills innocent people. 'Collateral' means: connected to the main point, but not the focus.]
new internationalist
issue 316 - September 1999
NI: Global Issues for Learners of English > The Issues > Iraq > Arguments against the bombing
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