Phalapoem

Background:
The Nakba, which means “catastrophe” in Arabic, refers to the mass displacement and dispossession of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Before the Nakba, Palestine was a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society.

Zionism’s 19th-century scheme,
Herzl’s call, Palestine’s dark gleam.
Ben-Gurion’s voice, transfer’s ruthless theme,
Post-WWI, immigration’s haunting scheme.

Nazi horror, ’33 to ’36,
Arab Revolt, turmoil’s crushing fix.
’44, war declared,
’47’s strife, echoes declared.

Ethnic cleansing, lives laid bare,
Nakba’s tale, tragedy’s despair.
No master plan, chaos’ cruel sheen,
History mourns, echoes unseen.