Learning to kill
Is a matter of momentum
It starts small
And then it comes
Patrols every night
In the casbah of Nablus
Hey, what here is ours
And what is yours
At first just a drill
A rifle’s butt bangs on the door
Children in shock
A family terrified
Later – closure*
There’s danger already
Death is lurking
Behind every corner
Cocking the weapon
Arm shaking
Finger is firm
Against the trigger
The heart goes wild
Beats, terrified
It knows – next time
It will be easier
They are not a man, not a woman
They are just an object, just a shadow
Learning to kill
Is a matter of habit
Learning to fear
Is a matter of momentum
You start small
And then it comes
The news from above
Reaches the street
There’s no hope of living
The end is so near
Prophecies of terror
Like the crow of a raven
Close the shutters
Close up in the homes
We’re just a few
And they are so many
A tiny country
Devoured by enemies
They have only hate in their hearts
Evil, dark urges
Learning to fear
Is a matter of habit
Learning cruelty
Is a matter of momentum
It starts small
And then it comes
Every boy is a man
Craving victory
Hands behind the head
Legs spread
It’s a time of danger
It’s a time of destruction
Soldier, toughen up
There’s no good in compassion
The cousin like an animal
Used to blood
Doesn’t feel suffering
Is not human
Field uniform and chafing
Exhaustion and routine
From stupidity to evil
The route is short
All ours, all ours
Israel’s land
Learning cruely
Is a matter of habit
Son, son– stop
Son, son – come back
Come to me, sweetheart
Come to me, my baby
The sky is so gloomy
Outside, already dark
Tin soldiers still
Under the bed
Come home, son
Come home
Home
Home
Learning to love
Is a matter of tenderness
A careful step
In a cloud of gentleness
We will hesitate, we will come apart
We will soften, we will round out
Learning to love
Is a matter of habit
Being human
Is a matter of momentum
It grows like an unborn child
And then it comes
For just one minute
Just now, just today
To be on the other side
Of that same checkpoint
But our heart has hardened
And our skin is thick
Deaf and blind
In the bubble of the present
We will observe in amazement
The falling angel
Being human
Is a matter of habit
*”Closure” is a military term referring to a situation in which inhabitants of a village or town are prevented from traveling outside it.
– from here
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