Impermanent things

The Moors’ last laugh

My daughters mean the world to me

To keep them safe is my whole intent

But in a time of war can fathers truly

Protect daughters? I used to be happy,

So cheerful, so easy in my cares.

But now I hate the moonlight

I am scared to be taken unawares.

We are occupied now by Christian armies.

But we keep Muhamed close to our hearts

Whilst professing to be Christians.

In the church the Inquisition watch

Us carefully. We’ve learnt to genuflect

At the right moments. Nobody wants to be

Burnt alive. We have to do the hardest

Work in the fields. The Christians now

Have taken our homes, our wealth is gone.

We hide our eyes and cry when

We remember how Christians, Jews

And Muslims worked together under

The old dispensation. Before the fall

Of Grenada. Fortune no longer smiles

On us. We do as we are told and work.