text version of the poem under the cut
Long Live Itsy Bee by Jane Shi
The world’s so hard and bitter and it makes you want to flee, Chasin’ gods from where they sleep to where they drink the sea. You chase ‘em to the stations, you chase ‘em to the zoo, And then you chase ‘em home again after their bodies’ due.
One day you ask them what it is that makes it all worthwhile They point to Itsy Bee who can’t help but make you smile You watch the Youtube video and each time you would cry Watch this cartoon pup and Cap’n whose love will never die
If he and Itsy Bee would sail to Gaza’s shores today They’d bring in food and water so that kids will be okay Itsy Bee will fetch the arrows while Cap’n brings the bow That stop the rain of airstrikes hurtling down below
Itsy Bee will sail and sail until Palestine is free She’ll bark for Congo, Hawai’i, Sudan, Haiti— For in this life you know that every creature has its role And this sweet oat with her best friend will fight until they’re old
When you dream of freedom Itsy Bee comes to mind And no cap’n worth their salt would leave anyone behind And when some kids are livin’ in an itsy bitsy hovel While others and their family are buried under the rubble
They’ll sail there and help fight with their mighty bow n’ arrow They’ll bring all the medicine along with bread and taro And if the sea is kind to them they’ll carry out pots of fish Feed and heal the children and their families who all wish
That the world would care and stop this, don’t scroll when you see Chasin’ kids from where they sleep to where they meet the sea. We chased ‘em to the border, we chased ‘em in the zoo, But one day they’ll go back home again as free people do.
A beautiful poem written by Jane Shi and illustrated by me in the style of the original itsy bee animation! It took me a few months, but I'm so proud of how this turned out! This is my first time producing a full length illustrated booklet, so there was a lot of learning to be had.
We have both a digital version and a physical Canadian pre-order on Big Cartel! You can also pick up a free version on my Itch page, but any donation is greatly appreciated.
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As well, please consider making an additional donation to my friend @kareman-dohaan. Many of her photos were used as inspiration for certain details in my illustrations. She is vetted by both gaza_evacuations_funds and 90-ghost.
Her gofundme is here
