by B. R. GOWANI
one of the 41,414 Palestinian victims of Israel’s inhumane bombing
can’t see the victim’s face – as the body is covered in shroud
nor do we see the face of the woman embracing the lifeless body
as the woman’s face is hidden by her elbow thus invisible
the relation is that of an aunt, 36-year-old Inas Abu Maamar
with 5-year-old Saly, whose life ended before it had barely begun
Saly’s mother and sister were killed too —
victims of the Israeli armed forces
the picture depicts agony and anguish evident, yet hidden …
Mohammed Salem’s photo* brings to mind the unforgettable Pieta
Mary holding dead Jesus in Michelangelo‘s Pieta exudes serene sorrow
one could wow for realism of Michelengelo’s sculpted tortured Jesus …
here neither the murdered body nor the aunt’s hidden face reveal much
yet, you can’t escape the inner anguish and tormented state of the aunt
nor can you escape feeling intense grief for loss of an innocent child’s life
B. R. Gowani can be reached at brgowani@hotmail.com