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A New Collection of Poems by Hanna Awwad

Hanna had told me the book was being written and published and has graciously sent me a copy. This is a book of poems from the heart of the action today; a collection of 50 poems about the people and events in the Middle East focused on Jerusalem.

Following is the Forward to the book.

“This collection of poems, “A Voice Crying in the Wilderness”, addresses the current wave of hatred in the light of the Bible and sheds light on terror incidents and victims.
Moreover, it is a journey to the Holy Land where you have a foretaste of its nature, environment, landscape and location being in the midst of nations, as in Ezekiel 5:5, which explains why Jesus centered His ministry in this country.
However, my assurance that my word will not be in vain is based on: Isaiah 55: 10-12, “For as the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and make it bud and flourish, so is my word that goes out of my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire, and achieve the purpose for which I am sent.”
When John the Baptist was asked, who he was (John 1), he answered by saying: “I am the Voice Crying in the Wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord”. John came to prepare the way for Jesus. He is not the light, but he came to witness for the light.
In this time marked with fear, wars, divisions, turmoil, fall of values, instability and radicalism highlighted in the barbaric crimes that are committed by ISIS, BOKO Haram and other terrorist organizations against innocents, and in particular against the Christians and Yazidis of Iraq. In a time as such, the grace of God poured in us through the power of the Holy Spirit inspires us to continue what John the Baptist had started by preparing the hearts of people to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, and also to witness for Jesus and the Gospel, for it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes (Roman 1:16).”

I asked Hanna if I could include one of the poems and he told me I could include the following poem from the book.

A MESSAGE SIGNED WITH BLOOD

In front of what happened on that bay,
what can I say?
no word can describe that horrible scene
of brutal slay,
no poem can express my passion
on that awful day,
no tear wipes my grief on seeing
a cut head on a tray.
In time of sword, no word uproots
this global decay,
that plays with lives of innocents,
as a doll made of clay.
It is the weevil of the world rotting
its bones from within.
It is a dagger in the side of humanity
sharper than a pin.
0, fellow Christian, when you were led
to death on shore,
in flesh you were sad, but in soul
you were joyful as before,
for you were on date with Jesus
who knocked on your door,
calling you to enter into His glory
to enjoy His odor-adore.
When you were given the option
either to convert or die,
you refused to convert when you said:
“on faith we will die”.
Your crimson blood, on the surface
of the sea, does cry,
calling us to lift up the name of Jesus
high in the sky.
A legend of martyrdom, a symbol
of sacrificial love,
a tune of faith, a song of peace
on the lips of a dove,
an icon of heroism, a great message
signed with blood:
‘for me to live is Christ
and to die is gain”, as Paul said.
Therefore, I decided to quit writing,
for it helps no more,
in front of what is happening
in this Third World War.

Hanna Awwad

Published by
Taybeh Mission Church 2014 All rights reserved to the Author

Contacts
P.O Box 51340, Jerusalem 91513, Israel Phone: 02-289 9305
Cell: 0544 452 824, Jawwal: 0598 874 889 Email: abumahfuz2013@yahoo.com Website: http://www.hannaawwad.webs.com

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