In memory of a slain child

Hamza Ali al-Khateeb

Oh sweet and precious child, your life cut short so horrifically, too quickly, without mercy, without love, my heart aches for what you must have endured. With a most tragic hope, I hope your death came quickly to end your suffering. A child-man, once with life so promising, your bright eyes and sweet tender face show us all the sanctity of childhood and the horrific shadow that stills it in contrast to your bright child light. Goodbye, dear precious habbibi Hamza. 

You are in the care of God and his angels now, your suffering is over, your eternal life begun too young. May you now feel in some incomprehensible way, the love of all the mothers in the world. May our love, our tears, carry you into the arms of our God. 

The outrage of your death is ineffable. I only hope it will bring an end to the oppressive, evil regime that tortured you and tortures your courageous Syrian countrymen still. May God intervene in this tragedy of all tragedies. And, may the peace of God hold you in heaven's arms eternally.

Tears come to me today where words are meant to flow. My heart is too deeply troubled to allow me to address intelligibly my sadness over the macabre torture and death of a 13-year-old Syrian boy, barely out of his childhood. It is unimaginable what the human race has become.