1977-1978

South Lebanon, 1978
a gray dampness
shrouds sighing hilltops,
fields, heavy with fallen rain,
sweat in the winter night,
frontier, border,
a mountain ridge,
slender fingers of eucalyptus
tickle thick air playfully,
.deceitfully veiling the movement
of men, arms.
it is. it is.
nearly midnight.
single streak: bristling flashing fire
splitting darkness
silhouetting flat roofed stone houses;
a handful of wooden sentinels
arms raised in reproach
against the burning sky.
pounding of artillery
cracks open the sleeping stillness,
minutes pass- hours,
grinding...
advancing...
heavy tread of grumbling metallic cavalry
moving forward; forward relentlessly,
fighters flying overhead
grim shadows passing stealthily,
curtain rising,
parched,broken dawn,
streets filled with rubble, dust,
blasted rock scattered where bunkers had been,
wide-eyed fellahin tremble shrug watch wait
from behind dark churning smoke,
distant gunfire:
rhythmic dirge
beating as soldiers pick through ruined streets:
beating as fedayeen flee through fields and orchards:
beating as villagers pack some belongings:
in the misty light of morning.
judith mendelsohn
D ry Bones
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