Untraditional Woman  

Sarajevo
By: Azza El Wakeel

Every laugh in our safe countries
Faces a scream in Sarajevo
Every joy welcoming a newborn baby
Faces a child’s slaughter in Sarajevo
We live while Sarajevo falls into doze
And awakes in its blood
Walks on its children’s remains
Drowns in its women’s tears
Sarajevo, the legend of torture
Through you we all became sinful and guilty
Sarajevo, if they succeed in destroying you
You will depart from the world’s map as a martyr
And we will stay behind crying over you
With eyes filled with shame
Remembering we didn’t defend you
But expressed pity for you in our writings
Kept reciting prayers
Repeating words that didn’t prevent your destruction
We left you unarmed
And sat watching your funeral in silence
Sarajevo, never forgive us
Because we delivered you
With our own hands to death