During the first world war T.H.Lawrence and agent of the British army, was instructed to organise an Arab revolt in what we know of as the middle east . To do so he was instructed to give certain promises to the Arab tribes


Homeland by M.A.Meddings

This poem is an imaginary reconstruction of a meeting between General Allenby the head of British forces in Asia minor during the first world war
And Prince Feizal head of Arab insurgent forces organised by T H Lawrence. The full story is told in Lawrences book 'The seven Pillars of Wisdom' It is a book which until recent years was suppresed by succesive British Governments as devisive. It exposes the duplicity of British policy in the middle east. We are now feeling the ramifications of that policy



But he promised us
Who did ?
Mr lawrence did
He said if we helped
To defeat the Turks
Then our Homeland
Would be ours
General Allenby Sir

And exactly
What is your homeland?
Well it is that land
Our forfathers found
We call it Palestine
But what ever
It is rightfully
Ours your excellency

And what did you do
To deserve this gift
Well sir we, that is
The Arabs
Crossed the desert
On camels
And took
The port of Acaba

And then we drove them
From Damascus
The Turks that is
So that our friends
The British
And the French
could colonize
Our promised land

And why do you think '
That we
The British and the French
Would want this land
Strategically speaking

Well your excellency
With due respect
And a suitable bowing
I think you call it oil
Black gold
And we were given
Promises by Mr Lawrence
An honest man

Mr Lawrence I have to say
Your highness
Was apt to work
Without authority
And of course
He would not know
Shall we say
The bigger picture

Besides
I ask you in all sincerity
Do you think the arabs
Are ready
For that sort of responsibility
Perhaps in a few years
Palestine will be theirs
But not just yet








Poetry by lastromantichero The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 556 times
Written on 2006-08-11 at 19:31

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Amanda K
Mike,
I read that once in a book of history. A fake promise was made and chanaged the palestinians' fate ,yet I believe their land will return to them,oneday. Well-written and interesting unlike some political poems.I admire your honesty.

do take care,
2006-09-04


kath
And I wonder why we are such pricks all of us called humans, we are the only speices that have the ability to decive ...... I think hard and seek deep into my heart and try to find the justification for giving us the world to exploit ... and I come up with nothing....... bur maybe it is because we are also the ones that can feel remorse and maybe that is our lesson to learn ......... a nice write that takes us back in time as well as in to our time today
2006-08-16



A histrorical poem...!!!nice one!!!kissess
2006-08-12


Kathy Lockhart
Your ability to bring to life these moments in time whether fictionalize or historically correct is extraordinary!What a sad commentary on the way truths are so often hidded and then judgements and deadly actions are made based upon lies. It seems this is how life goes in the world of governments and power. Greed for power and money is the cause of so much pain! Excellent expose'! Kathy
2006-08-12


Zachary P. B.
I loved this piece, the conversation in it, but the truth and history behind it... it's horrible how we all treat people less than what they are... history is bound to repeat itself i think...

wondrous piece mike,
z
2006-08-11



"Do you think the arabs
Are ready
For that sort of responsibility
Perhaps in a few years"
Just the kind of stupid and unjustified attitude of superiority that has been causing, and will go on causing, tragic consequences for everybody!
Well-written and scenographic, as always with your historic themes!
2006-08-11


Troll
a history lesson and a poem all in one! another awesome poem from you, don't you write any junk? :)
2006-08-11