It will not do to paint just an eye.
There must also be some scenery around
vibrating with colour.

Blood has many shades
Red is mere drama
and cruelty dances in myriad colours

What’s an eye alone?
Whatever is seen can be made unseen.
Will a blind eye pierced by the date’s thorn
turn into something besides
a dry, burning jungle?

What’s an eye alone?
There could be ash as evidence
and they would call it an illusion.
The powdered bones and tender flesh of children
will be delicacies in the century’s great banquet

What’s an eye alone?
Barbarity crushed it long ago.