Haifa

When the village – which is set in the foothills

of Mount Carmel, in the hinterland

between the coastal cities of Acer

and Haifa, and blessed with seven springs –

had been ethnically cleansed, its villagers

exiled or unaccounted for, its name changed,

it became an artists’ colony,

attracting painters, sculptors, musicians,

composers, poets, playwrights, novelists,

film makers from all over the nascent state.

The pristine forests of native pine, oak,

alder, laurel, it was surrounded by,

were replaced with stands of European trees.

The stone houses were refurbished or razed;

the school became an exhibition centre;

the mosque a café called ‘Bonanza’.

 

The original village was founded,

it is said, by one of Saladin’s

commanders. Its abundant harvests

of wheat, sesame, carob – sheltered

from the prevailing north westerly winds

by the surrounding woodland, watered

by the perpetual seven springs – were sold

for centuries in the ancient markets

of Haifa and Acer.