All Things Not Considered, by Naomi Shihab Nye

You cannot stitch the breath

back into this boy.

A brother and sister were playing with toys

when their room exploded.

In what language

is this holy?

The Jewish boys killed in the cave

were skipping school, having an adventure.

Asel Asleh, Palestinian, age 17, believed in the field

beyond right and wrong where people came together

to talk. He kneeled to help someone else

stand up before he was shot.

If this is holy,

could we have some new religions please?

Mohammed al-Durra huddled against his father

in the street, terrified. The whole world saw him die.

An Arab father on crutches burying his 4 month girl weeps,

“I spit in the face of this ugly world.”

*

Most of us would take our children over land.

We would walk in the fields forever homeless

with our children,

huddle under cliffs, eat crumbs and berries,

to keep our children.

This is what we say from a distance

because we can say whatever we want.

*

No one was right.

Everyone was wrong.

What if they’d get together

and say that?

At a certain point

the flawed narrator wins.

People made mistakes for decades.

Everyone hurt in similar ways

at different times.

Some picked up guns because guns were given.

If they were holy it was okay to use guns.

Some picked up stones because they had them.

They had millions of them.

They might have picked up turnip roots

or olive pits.

Picking up things to throw and shoot:

at the same time people were studying history,

going to school.

*

The curl of a baby’s graceful ear.

The calm of a bucket

waiting for water.

Orchards of the old Arab men

who knew each tree.

Jewish and Arab women

standing silently together.

Generations of black.

Are people the only holy land?

FIRST DRAFT

In the poem entitled, ‘All Things Not Considered’ by Naomi Shihab Nye, the poet describes the tone of the poem ironically by portrayed the situation of the seized country, which is Palestine. This poem is an autobiography of Naomi Shihab Nye, because her father was a Palestinian.  Through the title, diction and symbolism can make a statement that the greedy of power make people lose their sense of humanity.


            Through the title itself, they did not count any aspect of religion, races, language or culture in doing something. As we can see in the poem, the Jewish and the Arab were oppressed and received the same fate. Children also face the same fate as adult. They were suffering a lot. Children symbolized the early stage of human. They should enjoy their live by having education, playing, and etc. Unfortunately, many of them suicide in the crisis.

           
           The repetition of ‘holy’ in the poem also satire religion. All religion teaches their follower to be kind towards human. But, in this poem, they did not show any sympathy towards the Palestinians.  Power distinct people’s religion. Any new religions symbolize the hopes?  The poet keeps questioning whether there are any hopes for their future? People keep silence towards the issue. People do not have to face the problems. But, all Palestinians do not give up and always try to save their live.


           So, the poet concludes the poem by reminds to the readers to do some action. All Palestinian are waiting for helps. They cannot do anything. We are the one that suppose to help them rather than give fake hopes. Humanity is important to keep the world in peace and harmony.