Adnate in Gertrude St. Fitzroy. Melbourne, Australia

It was said,

“be afraid.”

And the people became afraid.

I stood,
a dwarf in a petrified forest,

watching them dance the ancient dance —

there seemed joy in their terror,

and laughter, too.

People baked bullets into their bread.

They chopped up newspapers

and fried them

with sliced onions & sizzling steaks.

They stroked surveillance cameras

between their legs.

They treated TV screens like wells,

dipping buckets into them,

filling teacups
and offering them to neighbours.

At times it held the shape of mirrors and men,

but mostly,

the Fear spread across the waking earth 

as if it were gas

and gas expands to fill

whatever vessel

it is put in.

Today,

A man would not serve me at the supermarket.

A woman crossed the street to avoid me.

An anonymous email wished death upon me.

I, too,

became afraid.

*Ο Omar Mousa είναι Αυστραλός ποιητής αραβικής καταγωγής.
**Για την εικόνα της ανάρτησης ευχαριστίες στην Katerina Libertaria, που την έβαλε στον τοίχο της στο facebook. Thanks to Katerina Libertaria for the photo.