New Poetry by Basman Elderawi: ‘I Am Not Jesus’

I Am Not Jesus

By Basman Elderawi

I am not Jesus, but since birth

I move along the Via Dolorosa,

carrying the guilt of the world

on my back.

I am not Jesus, but

I walk with all my pain,

searching the sky

for the face of God, our Father.

I am not Jesus, but

I will be executed

for standing, for fighting,

for speaking.

I am not Jesus.

I am his grandson.

They bomb me in his hospital,

in his church, in his home.

I am not Jesus, but

I am trying not to hate my enemy.

And yet I see no point

to spilling my blood.

I am not Jesus,

but the world watches me,

asking me to suffer humbly,

in perfect innocence.

I fight only with words.

Yet I confess to throwing stones

of judgement. Thus, I fail

to earn His name.

I am not Jesus.

The world applauds warriors,

yet calls me terrorist

for raising my voice.

I am not fighting,

but still,

I am losing.

I am not Jesus, but still:

I face the same

justice.