Pounding, screeching
A jack hammer begins its scream
Tearing at the sunshine
Drilling through my peace time
Dropping me mid-dream
A quiet morning in Beirut?
That was my real expectation
Hopeful, naïve anticipation
Trusting in the ever-present sun
Forgetting this city is always undone
But I can’t help it
The city is a mirage
People thirsty for old days
Dressed like it’s the good days
Chaos, wrapped in golden sun
Is the beauty enough?
When the jack hammer goes on screaming
And in the news I keep reading
Of rich people cheating
While the people keep pleading…
Hallas!
Enough.
So I turn up the music
To shut out the noise
Hoping the peace inside my headphones
Can steal me some joy
Leave me the hills flooded with light
And the olive grove bursting with life
I want the beauty
I hate the pain
If only I could sift through the struggle
Rebuild the castle from the rubble
Pull out the good people
Let the evil drift away
I can’t help crying
I see redemption in the sunlight
But why is it so far away?