PILGRIMAGE TO IBILLIN
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WE COME TO IBILLIN AS STRANGERS ON A BUS
AND LEAVE AS FRIENDS.

WE HAVE BREATHED THE AIR OF IBILLIN,
HIGH SCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN.
TOGETHER IN CLASS WE LINED UP,
AND ENJOYED THE DANCE OF RELATIONSHIP
AS WE GOT TO KNOW THESE CHILDREN OF PALESTINE.

WE HAVE LISTENED TO STORIES OF VILLAGES
BURIED AND FORGOTTEN
IN THE SHADOW OF FOREIGN PINE.
WE HAVE WALKED THE OVERGROWN PATHS
LONG FORGOTTEN IN THE SHADOW OF THE HILL.

WE ARE NOT EXPECTING THE PEACEFUL BEAUTY
OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LAND.
AND YET WE ENCOUNTER THEM IN THE PARADOX OF PEOPLES
AS WE SLIDE ACROSS LAKE GALILEE AND CAST OUR NETS.

WILL WE RETURN TO IBILLIN AGAIN?
I DO NOT KNOW
YET IBILLIN REMAINS WITH US
AND GENTLY WAITS,
FOR US TO TELL OUR STORY.

Karen Rizzello. 2015.