I am not religious,
as such I don’t think there is a heaven or hell,
except those humanity makes.
Israel is a hell of sorts for Palestinian peoples,
the way Nazi Germany was a hell of sorts,
for Jewish peoples,
and in so many years,
we’re dragged back here,
again and again and again and again,
because nobody learns from history.
The slogan of ‘Never Again’,
is often one used in remembrance,
of the Holocaust,
but Again is Now.
I am not religious,
as such I don’t think there is a heaven or hell,
but we’re in hell now.
Because the just in heaven,
who look into hell,
and see suffering and suffer too,
are in hell too,
and the unjust who look into hell,
and see suffering and feel nothing,
make a mockery of heaven so much,
as that if any city or throne,
of any god were to exist it must rot.
A truly just god suffers,
in the concentration camps,
and is not found,
in any colonial marbled hall,
or imaginary cloudscape.
The throne of god,
is in the imprisoned children of Palestine.
Let the powerful of heaven and earth,
go to kneel and ask for forgiveness.
Because there is no other salvation
and hell persists.
Charl Landsberg is a South African poet, musician, and artist who’s work often focuses on issues of social justice.