What does it mean if a father cannot protect his children?
NPR story hour
Youssef on the phone
Shepherd of sixty Palestinian refugees
Tent camping on the Southern border
Eygpt a stone throw away
Haggard, soft, exhausted, compassionate voice
Just wanting to reunite with his family
Two sisters, one 8 months pregnant
Simple questions explore the human experience
In a zone of genocidal apartheid
His son requests kisses on the cheek
Until he falls asleep
Yousssef obliges, he appreciates this new ritual
Children stir easily to any sound in the night
Self-questioning, regret, why did he choose to have children
Why have children if you cannot protect them?
If he could go back in time
He would never marry
He would never have children
Not here, not in Palestine, not where Israel rains bombs
Not where USA built drones drop bombs
Not in the open air prison
What does it mean if we do not help a father protect his children?