Abdullah Ali

**Description of the Faces of Gaza’s People** In the corners of weary eyes, the people of Gaza carry their secrets—each face a story groaning under the weight of bombs. Here, faces never know full maturity, for war steals childhood before its time, and gray hair mourns youth still in its prime. The eyes hold an ocean of grief, yet the lashes refuse to break, as if shielding the last remnants of a dream. Tender cheeks wither under the siege’s sun, and when the mouth attempts a smile, only the scent of abandoned coffee in a ruined kitchen escapes. Even laughter here seems to slip through broken ribs, and words stumble, heavy with the bullets of memory. The faces resemble scorched earth—all cracks and fissures—yet deep within, seeds wait for rain. They walk as if dragging the burdens of the entire world, yet they lift their heads, knowing the only sky worth gazing at is the one not yet stained by the smoke of drones. **Closing:** Gaza is not alone in bearing such faces. Wherever oppression thrives, people are born with shortened faces—yet within their folds, they carry lifetimes of patience. (Note: The translation preserves the poetic tone while adapting some cultural nuances for English readers.)