Haifa Oranges

Haifa Oranges.

I bought oranges in Haifa, for the ship’s crew
those on top of the crate were juicy, those
lower down were well passed sell- by- date.
No point complaining, brown eyes would ice
up, noses wrinkle in contempt, menace in
the air, stop! The unsaid word is an elephant
in the room.

My will was weak, anchored in the bay
the air force had been playing war games,
diving down to the ship before flattening
out, the roar stunned us into incoherence,
great fun for some; no point complaining
though, no one listened, we’re victims of
a land gripped by the delirium of power