Who Shall Inherit the Earth

By: Devorah Major

who shall inherit the earth
​
in amharic 
i once heard
the correct translation 
was not the meek
broken
crushed 
humiliated
low 
who would inherit the earth
but the gentle 

and we are

inheriting
these streets 
even as we sleep on them
and are swept up only to return
sharp the edges of so many of our lives
fierce with hunger and pain
so much disillusionment
and so very few triumphs

even as the rulers
squeeze tighter
cutting short our breath
hobbling our steps

harnessed together we will
inherit the earth
such as it is 

sad with violence and pestilence
the air clotted and gray

islands covered with an
ever rising sea turning
turning

still it is becoming ours

even as they wage 
their gruesome wars
killing and selling 
buying and exporting death
advertising the price for each kill 
factored into the decision 
to research develop manufacture 
and buy the newest weapon 
to kill more quickly
more anonymously

even in the face of this hegemony of arms
every side buys from every side
every side sells to every side
even the pawns choose their weapons
aim and fire and die

still we gentle are joining 
together more and more tightly
inheriting the earth
from these others who want
only to have 
to hold 
to own 
to control
as if they were hurricane and sun
arrogant in their perceived power
not understanding that 
all of it will explode

or else disintegrate
and they will be left with
misshapen impotent stories
of the times that use to be

while we will remain
remembering our many 
losses along the way
still wounded and reeling
we gentle will 
inherit the earth
and pull out our seed stock
and begin to plant anew

Amharic translation:  
 "Blessed are the gentle for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be satisfied.”

Previously published in my book A Braccia Aperte /with arms open (Multimedia Edizione, Baronissi, Italy 2019).

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Born and raised in California,  ​devorah major  served as San Francisco’s Third Poet Laureate (2002-2006). She has just returned from Italy where her sixth book of poetry with open arms was released in a bilingual edition.  A Willow Press Editors Choice her seventh book of poetry Califia’s Daughter will be published by Willow Press at the end of this year.  devorah major performs her work nationally and internationally with and without musicians. http://www.devorahmajor.com