Not Brave

I am fine and of course I am lying 
remember  
I am Lebanese 

or nod 
ask how everyone I know is doing  
don’t 

you see  
that far away country  
my mother 

bursts into tears  
the front door  
resilient 

smoke  
dust  
the rubble has become 

blanket and bed  
warm like mine  
the fire 

is blazing  
the flag  
burnt flesh on a phone screen 

the demolition  
of war  
what is the definition

fleeing their homes  
they are  
dying 

they are not  
crying out for help  
lend a 

hand  
hold a  
heart 

for being arab  
I am not brave