The Hanging Garden of Babylon

In Babil province, Iraq

And for the neighbours

Of an oil-rich terrain

The child is tortured-

A human body is skinned

And yet there is,

The rapture in death

Of glory in conquering

And misery in conquest-

Relief at the end of suffering

And real life enlightenment;

From voices of learning
Are heard the lessons

Inside the echoing laments

Of our invisible ancestors.

- J.Bibi (2012)