Fourteen Months

Arab boys, all eyelash and colour
who tangled coffee-brown together;
the most beautiful boys I have seen.
Unbroken - matches not to be snapped -
when they hanged you blind, you saw by love,
matchlight more brilliant than fear or lust -
a beacon across a continent.
You would disapprove, beautiful boys,
I choke fire for your deaths, tears for your
freedom. I will keep the torch alight
for Arab boys who loved too loud. You 
are my brothers in love. They forget
but I do not. You are my brothers.