Bread Dipped in Blood

~ natasha devalia

All Eyes on Gaza, all eyes on Gaza

On Khan Younis and Jabalia

For Ahmed— music teacher, he tunes his voice

to the tambura of daily drones,

For Madleen— fisherwoman whose own seas 

are under siege. 

For Dr Alaa, whose 8 of 9 children, and her husband— killed. 

Vasan, in Bangkok painted her family—

pictures we can all no longer unsee. 

All eyes on Gaza, all eyes on Gaza 

Through Bisan, Hind, and Wael we know, we see. 

While the Gaza Humanitarian Fund tosses 

bread dipped in blood,

how can I possibly post my son 

eating a pain au raisin? 

All eyes on Gaza, all eyes on Gaza

On hospitals — Nassar and Al Shifa. 

While bones stick out of the bodies of babies

and all that’s left are memories. 

Through Bisan, Hind, and Wael we know, we see.

All eyes on Gaza, all eyes on Gaza. 

Bread Dipped in Blood, Acrylics on canvas, 80x120cm

Natasha Devalia

June 2025

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Published by natasha devalia

Author Poetry and Art books: ‘Tears and Grape Seeds’ 2025, ‘one touch of the rope’, 2024 and ‘Unseen Veins’, 2023 Zambian of South Asian descent, living in Thailand. I write poetry, perform, and I’m currently an MFA (painting) student. The themes of my art whether expressed through movement, poetry, painting or as interdisciplinary forms include identity, belonging, mental health and family life.

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