Tanka poems against the war

 

I watched a movie filmed in 2024 by Director Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Here Children Do Not PlayTogether. This is his latest work to examine the deteriorating relations between Palestine and Israel after October 7, 2023.

 

In the film, one Israeli man tells Makhmalbaf that the words, peace or hope, have been dead there. The words no longer have the meanings to stand for.

 

I was so shocked by this comment, as in one sense it sounds true, in another sense I believe we still have some power to revitalize the words.

 

I can still present you my poem inspired by Makhmalbaf more than 20 years ago.

Director Makhmalbaf

Is filming for the children

Dying of hunger

With a prayer that falling

Bombs change into seeds of wheat

 

 

降り注ぐ爆弾麦に変われよと

マフマルバフはカメラを回す

 

Hurisosogu Bakudan mugi ni Kaware yo to

Mahumarubahu wa Kamera wo mawasu

 

 

The tanka poems from "Flowers and Bombs: Stop the Violence of the War Now!" by

Kaoru Kobashi

https://hanabaku.blogspot.com/

Mohsen MAKHMALBAF