Over Jerusalem

Am I the hawk? Am I the dove?
The vulture swooping down from above?
Am I the drone, circling high
Whirring tuneless, pie-eyed in the sky?

Angry gods of retribution
Driving hate without solution
City, home to all who came and ever will

Long lost tribes, invaders of old
Staking their claim to spiritual gold
Layers of antiquity buried below
Each with a sad tale to better not know

There is no time for meditation
Pause for thought or hesitation
Set in stone, firm pledges to fulfil
Angry gods of retribution
Driving hate without solution
City, home to all who came and ever will

Rocks upon rocks
Ashes on ashes
Bagels and lox
Warak dawali
Divisible loaves
Two fish from the Galilee
As friends sit and dine
Take water and wine

I walk the cobbled alleys nervously
Soldier girls, soldier boys stare at me
Down the line, out of time, switch alliance in my mind

I walk the cobbled alleys nervously
Soldier girls and soldier boys stare at me
Down the line, out of time, switch alliance in my mind

Am I the hawk? Am I the dove?
The vulture swooping down from above?
Am I the drone, circling high
Whirring tuneless, pie-eyed in the sky?

There is no time for meditation
Pause for thought or hesitation
Set in stone, firm pledges to fulfil
Angry gods of retribution
Driving hate without solution
City, home to all who came and ever will
But I never will

I'm not over Jerusalem
Jerusalem