The Third Brother

Three Brothers, Anders Wollin, 2005

The Third Brother

An expert asked three brothers
what they thought of suicide bombings
in the tube and on the number 30 bus,
7/11/05, London.

The brothers were Islamic
and Lebanese.

One brother said
the UK deserved it
because it took part in the
US invasion of Iraq and
supported Israel.

The second brother
said suicide bombings
were against the Koran.

The third brother said
he didn’t know.

The expert said terrorist
groups work from a base
"which they situate in"
(he might have said
"which emerge from")
the midst of people
who are oppressed.

The expert said terrorist movements
are successful when people acquiesce.

Maybe they are afraid,
maybe they don’t care,
maybe they support the work.

He said when people
don’t support it,
terrorism subsides.

He said
it depends on the third brother.

He didn't question the fundamental
insanity inherent in the application
of the word "terrorist" to one
side of a violent conflict
and not the other.

He didn't interview the women,
nor did he address the point
at which "terrorism"
and revolution intersect
in the hearts
of brothers, sisters, mothers
fathers.


©Susan Bright, 2006

Susan Bright is the author of nineteen books of poetry. She is the editor of Plain View Press which since 1975 has published one-hundred-and-fifty books. Her work as a poet, publisher, activist and educator has taken her all over the United States and abroad. Her most recent book, The Layers of Our Seeing, is a collection of poetry, photographs and essays about peace done in collaboration with photographer Alan Pogue and Middle Eastern journalist, Muna Hamzeh.

* Art: Three Brothers, Anders Wollin, 2005


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