This is a spoken word version of a LinkedIn post by Hani du Toit, who lives in Cape Town, South Africa.

When angels testify, they will not speak and tell us of the tragedies they watched. They’ll brush their wings across our eyes and let us see from the rubble of our own humanity the horrors that occurred in Gaza City.

They will not weep as witnesses of trauma sometimes do. They will unfurl their giant wings like huge white shrouds and wrap us in their folds as if in floating clouds, and we will wail from the darkness of our souls as we feel the children’s flesh ripped from our bones. We will shudder as their teeth shake in our heads. We will wish for one more peaceful sleep in bed. We will long for the bliss of ignorance for the numbness that came with arrogance. When we saw what we saw and looked away, guessing the distance from there to here would stay

Your screens showed mothers rocking bodies on their knees clinging to the ones who held their hopes and dreams. Some simply prayed out loud, affirming their faith, tears mixing their bile with their heartbreak

But as these images flashed, you chose to smile. You chose hasbara and media denial. When you watched others march, you showed outrage for the pot-clanging riots that they staged. You got annoyed at their social media posts and their vigils, and the protests that they host for justice and freedom. They cried Anti-Semite! Terrorist! You replied.

When angels testify, they will not talk. They won’t use words to describe this holocaust They will simply lift the veils of self deceit Immersing you in the pain and the heat Of white phosphorus and bombs on repeat As you thrash, bewildered, as you scream You’ll have to face it was never a dream With your bubble of privilege unprotected You must accept that we ARE all connected That there is no superiority There is simply just one humanity

When angels testify, they will not speak. They’ll bring the Justice that Palestinians seek.

Version 1

Version 2