To the International Brigades

“No pasara’n!” – La Pasionaria, 1937

Yet they HAVE passed, Dolores,

our secular lady of sorrows,

passed the frente de Jarama

and the frente del Ebro

and all the other fronts –

swept Europe with fire

then disappeared, only to surface

again in a new guise

in Palestine, wolves

in sheep’s clothing, burning

the flesh of Gaza and of Hebron

and Jenin with their hellfire missiles

and their gasoline, crushing

body with soul with tanks

and bulldozers, calling forth

the rising of our IBs once more!

As long as there are

eyes to see and ears to hear, 

we shall echo your call, time

after fearless time, until their ovens

burn themselves out, until

the wolves surrender to the lambs.

We shall shout until our voice gives out,

THEY SHALL NOT PASS!

Long Island, February 2015