My Loyal Cactus

My loyal cactus,

I’m sorry to leave you alone in my balcony

I have no excuse except being forced to go to the south

Under the barrage of heavy bombs,

Frightening explosions and thousands of martyrs.

I’m sorry  again to let you encounter the terrible days and nights,

Witness the destruction of my surrounding neighborhood

And let you face thirst for more than a year without a sip of water

But I was there hungry and starving like you

When I came back

I found you still stalwart

Only some scars on your body

As a testimony on the merciless soldiers.

Let me  hug you tightly  and console you 

Because your thorns more delicate

Than the hypocrisy of humanity.

©® Ahmed Miqdad

Gaza

Palestinian poet

Activist

Awarded poet

Literary prize

Naji Naaman

2025