May God bless the hands of the father’s outstretched arms as he waits for his daughter to come home
May God bless the hands of the mother who raises them to the sky over the ruins of her home
May God bless the hands of the old man who rummages through destroyed buildings, looking for his dead
May God bless the hands of the undertakers who dig graves after months of waiting to give the deceased a dignified burial
May God bless the hands of the unskilled builders who pick up bricks and decide to remake what they lost
May God bless the hands of the volunteers who lift heavy boxes filled with aid and distribute them in displaced persons camps
May God bless the hands of those who drive buses taking people back to their homes
May God bless the hands of the soldiers who put down their rifles and swears that they have shot their last ever bullet
May God bless the hands of those who collapse on the ground in tears of relief
May God bless the hands of those who clench fists as they realise they are not numbered among the lucky ones
May God bless the hands of those who dance in the streets
May God bless the hands of the politicians who sign treaties for ceasefires
May God bless the hands of those who hold placards and say this isn’t enough
May God bless the hands of those who wag fingers and say this isn’t over
May God bless the hands of those who outstretch palms and say this could be over
May God bless the hands of those who shake hands and say this will be over
May God bless the hands of everyone who clasps their palms in supplication and begs for peace
May God bless the hands of the one who chooses life
May God bless the hands now buried in the earth
Sim Lev 