 Keep On Saying, “My God is Kind”

As the ceilings tumbled and dust filled the eyes and mouths struts and beams landed on heads and necks and hands and legs ready to stir stopped still under heaps of soil,

as moans and shrieks ascended the sky, we were not there to see all this suffering

and speak not a word of it, but God, after all, was there.

Did he not see babies sucking on their mothers’ breasts?

Did he not see shy new brides climbing into their nuptial beds?

Did he not see flocks of faithful in nocturnal prayers?

Did he not see feverish bodies dreaming of good health?

Did he not see? Did he not? Did he?

Did he not know that no mother would be left to put balm on the wounds of thousands of bleeding children?

Did he not know that surviving mothers and fathers having lost their children, would have no desire for life?

Did he not know that those who were away from home would have no kinsmen left to cry on their shoulder?

Did he not know? Did he not?

Would you keep on saying, “my God is kind”?

Would you, for the sake of your kind God, define kindness for me! 

— Ali Esfahani