thistles stretch their prickly arms afar
thistles stretch their prickly arms afar
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube
  • Home
  • Home
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

Sarah Bennett-Green

With Hope

Winter yawns; a stoney wind dashes against white nylon ghosts, half buried beneath sand and mud which, occasionally, reveals a blackened cooking pot.

Old broken olive branches tied with yarn, improvise a washing-line snapping above the morass. Frozen socks hang on, as if for dear life; their toes stab against needle-sharp gusts.

Spring, just a gentle blood warm beat away; slowly manages to penetrate beneath the undulating weight of earth and rubble, which crushes the many broken bones.

Oblivious to war, it’s not long now before green shoots attempt to thrust between ribs and empty eye-sockets.

The verdancy is unaware of the foreign savages and their bull-dozers, coming to rape the land which once was so beautiful.

Slowly, the lost people will return to their roots; they will grow stronger and enjoy their wanders among the flowers.  

Anemone (Anemone coronaria; Red Crown Anemone

     Persian Crowfoot (Ranunculus asiaticus; Turban Buttercup)

         Poppy (Papaver umbonatum Boiss; Semitic Poppy)

               Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum)

                    Faqqua iris (Iris haynei)

                         Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum)

                              Lupine (Lupinos Pilosus)

                                   Red Sharon Tulip (Tulipa agenensia)

Forests of pine, cypress, acacia, oak, eucalyptus stand tall, adding their weight and might behind the people’s struggle. 

Spring’s beauty will give them hope.

Sarah Bennett-Green is a ‘jobbing’ actor of 77 years of age, and was twice an Equity Deputy. She graduated in 2018 (aged 70) with an MA in creative writing from Exeter University. She is currently writing her memoirs, and has committed to writing a poem a week for 2026. This poem, regarding Gaza, is her first to be published.

Subscribe

Copyright © 2025  The Militant Thistles - Powered by GFD

Home
My account
More
More
  • Home