Monday, March 11, 2024

A Room of My Own: Al-Aqsa Haiku

Against the Drowning Noise of Other Words, XXX: "Al-Aqsa" 

distant boom, boom, boom...
the first sliver of the moon 
over Al-Aqsa 


FYI: Al-Aqsa is the compound of Islamic religious buildings that sit atop the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem.

This haiku could be read as a prequel to the following:

Ramadan moon
wave upon wave of prayers
in a tent city


And Haaretz, March 11: Israeli Police Block Hundreds of Palestinians From Al-Aqsa on Ramadan's First Night, Hit Worshipers With Batons

Restrictions for the first prayers of Ramadan contradicted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent promise to allow freedom of worship. The police issued dozens of restraining orders against Palestinian activists and journalists over the past few days, barring them from the compound.


Added: Against the Drowning Noise of Other Words, XXXI: "Ramadan lantern"

silent screams as prayers
in this death-dark nightmare
a Ramadan lantern


FYI: "The fanous lantern has been a symbol of Ramadan for hundreds of years. For Muslims, it represents the light guiding the way. In Egypt, during the holy month of Ramadan, streets are illuminated at night by colorful fanous lanterns."


AddedAgainst the Drowning Noise of Other Words, XXXII: "pre-dawn meal"

humming of drones ...
a family's pre-dawn meal,
finger-sized biscuits 


FYI: "Suhoor, known as the pre-dawn meal in English, is a significant element for Muslims during Ramadan. It is the last meal before the sun rises and the day of fasting begins."

And Haaretz, March 24: UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini said that Israeli Authorities informed the UN that they will no longer approve any UNRWA food convoys to the north of Gaza, adding that this was done "to obstruct lifesaving assistance during a man-made famine."


AddedAgainst the Drowning Noise of Other Words, XXXIII: "bulldozers" 

the first sliver
of the Ramadan moon
rows of men
face to face with the teeth
of Israeli bulldozers


Addedreading between the lives and writing between the lines, LXXXII

Royal smiles
photoshopped for Mother's Day ....
this broken world, yet ...


FYI: Sky News, March 11: Kate, Princess of Wales, apologises 'for any confusion' after 'editing' Mother's Day photograph

Graham Smith, of the anti-monarchy group Republic, earlier said: "The manipulation of an image that the palace says was taken by William is extraordinary.

"The monarchy has always sought to manipulate and manage its image, but if they have tried to fake a photograph to silence online conspiracy theories, that is disgraceful."


AddedThis Brave New World, CXI
written to the Subjects of "King Charles" whose kingdom has 4.2 M children growing up in poverty, i.e. 9 in a classroom of 30

a child's stare
at plates of English Muffins
in the store's window 
its wall-mounted TV
blasts, where is Kate?



4.2 million children are growing up in poverty in the UK

9 children in an average classroom of 30 (29%) are living in poverty

7 out of 10 children living in poverty have at least one parent in paid work

900,000 children in poverty in England alone miss out on free school meals....

And BBC News, March 21Absolute poverty: UK sees biggest rise for 30 years

The figure jumped to 12 million in 2022-2023, a rise of 600,000.
This means the rate of absolute poverty in the UK now stands at 18%

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