The healthy average heartbeat for an adult in my age group typically ranges between 60 and 100 bpm (beats per minute). Stress is a contributing factor to irregular heartbeats.

I've left my heart in Gaza

My poor little heart,
Over the last six months,
Stressed by news from Gaza,
Has been averaging over 110 beats.

With more bombs on innocent people,
It spiked to over 115,
Amidst the destruction of hospitals in Gaza,
It climbed to 120.

The loss of about 13,000 angelic children
Pushed it to 125,
While the starvation of innocent people
Raised it to 130.

The backing of a superpower in this genocide
Elevated it to 137,
Upon hearing vetoes against Palestinian statehood,
It surged to 140.

Thump thump, ba boom ba boom, thumps thumps...
No more space for further escalation,
It stopped forever! No more beats!!!

Mahvash Shahegh
April 27 2024