“Jerusalem,” Poem, Oumeima Mouelhi.

JERUSALEM

Jerusalem beats in my heart

Jerusalem bleeds, torn in parts

Jerusalem falls and stands

by itself, withstands,

the blows of foes,

it perfectly knows.

Come to me closer,

let me wrap you in my arms,

dry your tears with my eyes

smell you with every sunrise

the agony in me, you arise

heal yourself, don’t wonder

why you have to endure it all,

alone.

The gaze of the world still wanders

to the East, there is a prize

to your freedom, there is a price

your wounds ache me

your screams shatter the seas

till doomsday I love you

to your case, never withdrew

nor will I ever do…

Oumeima Mouelhi is a Tunisian assistant professor. She has a PhD in English literature and is a scholar of William Shakespeare. She has published a number of articles in this field. She is also a researcher and a reviewer in different journals. Being a deep passionate of verse, Oumeima writes French and English poetries alike and translates poems (including her own) from Arabic into English. Poems mirroring current issues, her life, and personal experience. Her Volume of poetry entitled, “Chapters of My Life” is a piece of her because of the many truths embedded within. The volume is made of 60 poems and each poem has its own soul and context. Currently, she is working on her French volume of poetry.

This poem is part of the upcoming “White Kites Over Gaza” anthology set to be published by North Meridian Press in 2026.