Fallujah Birthdays
When you were given to us
I gave you my name,
I rubbed the inside of your mouth
with a soft date,
I sacrificed two sheep for you,
and we feasted.
For your first birthday
I gave you a stuffed camel,
for your second birthday
I gave you building blocks,
for your third birthday
I gave you a drum,
for your fourth birthday
I gave you a jigsaw puzzle,
for your fifth birthday
I gave you your favourite book,
for your sixth birthday
I gave you prayer beads,
for your seventh birthday
I gave you a puppet,
for your eight birthday
I gave you a football.
For your ninth birthday
I gave you new clothes,
I gave you an empty box,
I washed you clean
and kissed you,
and we wept.
For your tenth birthday
I gave you flowers,
for your eleventh birthday
I gave you flowers,
for your twelfth birthday
I gave you flowers.
- David Atkinson
