Day 261

They are rebuilding a house
where their house had fallen.
Why rebuild? It will only
be bombed again, the boy
says to his father.  The father, whose 
right arm has been injured, hangs
useless from his shoulder,
doesn’t answer, hands
the child (with
his left hand) a small
block of concrete the child
can hold, says to him Here,
put it here.  Others have come
to help. They work, silently
or talking.  Laughing
at times.  At times weeping.
It is good in the cool of early morning
to lay one piece of concrete against another,
to feel the vigor of hands, legs. 
The child sets down the block
where his father is pointing.  Sees
that it balances.  Begins to understand how
it will make the corner of a room.