Whether they killed Zinab or not

The Syrian security kidnapped Zinab Al-Husni (19 yrs old) from her family house in Al-Sibaa neighborhood in Homs city on July 27, 2011. They handed a beheaded dismembered corpse to her family in pieces on September 17, 2011 from the Military Hospital in the city alleged as their daughter’s. The regime came back after a few days to host Zinab on its TV to prove that it was innocent from the accusations made against it earlier.

If the regime thinks that the nightmare of the Syrian people, which started when the regime came to power more than four decades ago, can be isolated from the horrifying experience of that girl, and that it deserves a pardon now after the girl was relocated, safe and sound, then it is wrong. This regime needs the pardon of more than twenty million Syrians to be off the hook.

Whether they killed Zinab or not

They killed a whole nation

By Tarif Youssef Agha

Whether they killed Zinab or not

That is not the question

It is neither where the truth is

Nor who is telling the truth and who is not

It is about a whole nation that was killed

And about the killer who is dancing on its blood, that was shed

He who survived the massacre, ended tied up or expelled

Or being a beggar if he is lucky

Or lived blind, mute and deaf

Scared of his shadow and all other shadows

Searching every day for dignity

But only finding oppression and humility

Not only bullets can kill

But also living with no dignity can

The people of Syria, through four decades,

Were loaded by what mountains can’t carry

Their honor was taken and their children were kidnapped

They were burdened by what the slaves can’t tolerate

They were jailed and tortured, but warned not to complain

Can they complain those who have already died?

They were allowed to live if only in poverty and humility

They were fed with speeches and promises without deeds

They were always the target of the evil

Their blood was made rivers and springs

They were told that asking for dignity is heresy

But kneeling on the photos of the leader is blessed

They were told that they will be cut, burned and skinned

To be sacrificed atop the altar of the ‘Struggle’

And that they will be made an example for every one who dares to raise his head

Raising the head in Syria is next to impossible

And after all that, the regime brags that it didn’t kill Zinab!

As if her appearance on the TV will bring back to life all those who were killed by the regime

NO. That appearance will not bring back all the people

The people who were buried alive for the sake of fortunes

A regime that kept slaughtering its people till I thought that Hulago Khan possessed it

And corrupted till cheating and deception flourished every where

A regime that kept lying till Musilama (an Arab celebrity liar who lived 1400 years ago) gave up his title to it

And deceived till we thought it is part of the Anti-Christ’s followers

We got used to theire fabricated TV stories

It is about time it comes with something new

It about time for that regime to be taken to court

As the sward of justice is attracted to its necks

The people of Zinab will, sooner or later,

Make the regime pay the price of its crimes

***

Poetry by: Tarif Youssef-Agha

An expatriate Arab Syrian Writer & Poet

Houston, Texas

Friday October 7, 2011

http://sites.google.com/site/tarifspoetry