After the spiritual, Mary had a baby
By Janet Hatherley
Set out from Nazareth, can’t get through
Ninety miles to Bethlehem
At Jalamah checkpoint
Flanked by a watchtower
Yellow gate and razor wire, can’t get through
Questioning her ID now, can’t get through
Could refuse her permit
Harassed by a soldier
Standing there in line
Weapon aimed at Joseph, can’t get through
Now they’re at Nablus, can’t get through
Palestinian city
Surrounded by checkpoints
Half a million settlers
People here are prisoners, can’t get through
Mary’s getting tired now, can’t get through
Feels her waters breaking
Here they are at Yitzhar
Settlers the most violent
Vandals on the rampage, can’t get through
Joseph’s getting scared now, can’t get through
Huwwarah checkpoint
Twenty thousand crossing
Hours and hours they’re queuing
Running out of food now, can’t get through
Qalandiya checkpoint, can’t get through
Refugee camp
This one even busier
Sixty thousand crossing
Water’s nearly gone now, can’t get through
City of Jerusalem, can’t get through
Checkpoint after checkpoint
More illegal settlements
Now they’re on the last leg
Mary’s near collapsing, can’t get through
Here’s the separation wall, can’t get through
Thirty feet high here
Bethlehem’s beyond it
Waiting at the checkpoint
Mary’s giving birth now, can’t get through
