Isaac and Ishmael

We are sons of Father Abraham,

Isaac, and Ishmael—

Sons of Adam, sons of Cain;

But we are infidel.

We have not been faithful.

We have not believed.

We have shed fraternal blood.

Our sin we have not grieved.

Yet, Abraham, the Patriarch,

Remains our father; still,

The land will drink the blood

Of all his sons until

We become our brother’s keeper—

Isaac and Ishmael—

God wants to hear* the brothers laugh**

To free our souls from hell.

We must see that we are brothers—

Sons of Father Abraham!

We have not lived as brothers

Here in the Promised Land:

Common blood runs through our veins;

We too easily forget

We desecrate this Holy Land

On which common altars sat.

We deny that we are brothers—

Sons of Isaac, Ishmael;

We each claim the inheritance;

And as far as we can tell:

The promise is exclusive

By what the prophets said

And we will fight, each for his right

Until the other’s dead.

We are sons of Father Abraham—

We are Muslim, we are Jew—

By Ishmael and Isaac,

The promise we pursue.

But to neither brother

The heritage may fall.

The promise was to Abraham—

His legacy to all.

In the faith of Abraham

Let us seek the good

And find in faith a road to peace

To love and brotherhood.

That we may live upon the land

Where the blood of brothers fell

And harmonize fraternity—

Isaac and Ishmael.

©Stan Sanford

October 5, 2001

*In Hebrew: Ishmael means “God hears.”

**In Hebrew: Isaac means “he laughs.”