Your Stories Look Me in the Eyes

<p>From societies living together yet drowning in hatred and despair emerge two souls who see the truth in the wisdom of their prophets: Feed the hungry and greet with words of peace those you know and those you do not know and the work of righteousness shall be peace. Basman Derawi (Gaza/Egypt) and Michal Rubin (Israel/US) write for a true Never again Not in my name for a child not to have Genocide in his/her dictionary for living colonization free occupation free for no more selective humanity for justice which is the only road to real peace.</p><p></p><p>This is a book of searching and finding through fear and pain their shared humanity love of the land and its people and decide in their unique way through poetry to co-create the yet unfertilized seed of a new reality. </p><p></p><p>As Rubin writes:</p><p>When I hear you say </p><p>I am from Gaza</p><p>I think I must paint the screams I don't hear</p><p>and that there isn't enough love</p><p>nor enough red paint </p><p>and what color to use </p><p>for the silence </p><p>between cries</p><p></p><p>And Derawi responds:</p><p>When I hear you say</p><p>I am from Israel</p><p>and you unzip your chest</p><p>handing me your heart.</p><p>Same hearts same humanity.</p><p>I breathe again I almost cry.</p><p></p><p>The poems in this collection are a precious example of a careful and thoughtful paradigm shift creating a path to a world of justice trust caring love and safety between enemies. </p><p></p>