Ramadan Challenge: #5 Sadiiq

Chained

The big boss

And his minions

Are all chained

Promised from the highest order

Any wrongdoings

Committed within this month

We've none to blame

Except ourselves



Sadiiq Ashuhle

Copyright © 2010



Ramadan Challenge: #4 Halima "The College dilemma"

Dear sis, she said, "Share a bite of this homemade biscuit"

I thanked her and politely said no

She insisted!

I mean, really insisted!

I smiled thinking she might be excused from her fasting days

And reminded her that our monthly cycle was on a whole different path

"I am fasting" today, I said

Her eyes looked at me as though she was scrutinizing every word I uttered

You mean you FAST in America?

Shocked and confused

At how a fellow Muslim could ask such a thing

My mind started asking questions

Do we abandon Allah's word based on our geographically locations

And only adhere to it when we are in our native lands

I asked her, beloved don't you fast?

Her mouth speeded through reasons why she could not fast

Classes

Work

Long stressful days

Not enough sleep due to homework assignment

The usual, she said, you understand, don't you?

I shook my head and said No I don't understand

At how you could choose to be blind

And deprive your soul from repenting during this Holy Month

Ramadan is more than abstaining from food and water

But rather it is a month you reconnect with your Lord

And appreciate all the blessings and mercy He was bestowed upon you

It is a month of forgiveness

A month for self evaluation

A month to exercise self discipline

A month to respect others

A month for Fasting

And, if you can't do that

At least do not mock those souls who restrain themselves only to please their Lord.



-Halima Ahmed

Copyright © 2010

Ramadan Challenge: #2 Mabsud " I remember back when"

I remember back in the days when I was younger I would argue, have tantrum attacks and even emotional breakdown when Hooyo and Aabo would say i can't fast because i was too young and it was worse when they'd say no for taaraweeh prayer.

I remember back when Ramadan was beyond the hunger and the amount of sambusas I'd get to devour at aftur.

I remember back when I'd start the countdown for Ramadan three to four months ahead.

I remember back when the whole family would pray each salaat together with Aabo leading us and taking this blessed month to share knowledge about Islam.

I remember back when I was a kid, I'd brag to everyone and everything that I was fasting and how much of a big girl I was now

I remember back when I used to help hooyo in the kitchen preparing suhoor and aftuur everyday. I also I remember failing at mimicking her actions and almost burning down the house.

I'm sure many of you had similar "Remember back when" experiences with fasting in your childhood, but I ask you now, why can't we make the best out of Ramadan in our teenage/adulthood as we used to back in our childhood?

Mabsud A

Copyright © 2010

Ramadan Challenge: #4 Sadiiq "Taraweeh"

Taraweeh

Wherever you may be

Everything remains identical

Standing in taraweeh

Among the piles of rows

From the vast masaajid

Around the globe

In each you will find

Lead by a one

Reciting the Qur'an

From the memory

A testament for the power of mind

A connecting point to the past

And ground work for the future

Sadiiq Ashuhle

Copyright © 2010



Ramadan Challenge: #4 Sam "Rise"

Rise beloved soul for your time is not up.

Still Twenty Six days to go.

So strive for sincere repentance.

Seek refuge in fasting and abstain from bad things,

So you may attain righteousness.

Beloved soul, it is time for you to Rise Up...

There is nothing wrong with crying

Your eyes may weep tears of remorse

So cry your heart out to your Lord

Praise Him, who has removed your sorrow, indeed our Lord isForgiving.

Rise

Rise Up...

Sam Said

Copyright © 2010

Ramadan Challenge: #3 Sam "Troubled Soul"

I don't understand you;troubled soul.

Nor comprehend how you are full ofguilt

Why you are in so muchfear?

What is that mist thatclouds your eyes?

I see your tearslonging for a new home.

I sit here numb as Ifail to understand the bitterness of yourgrief.

The sadness in yourtone

Your battle of regret and unsettled remorse.

I am exhausted with myfailed attempts to revive you.

I have ran out of helping hands

I am done with Q and Asessions.

This suffering mustend...

A smile must emergefrom beneath this beautiful face!

Let the hope shine onyou,

As the birds sing at dawn.

May you be touched by lovingkindness

The sweetness of faith

I pledge to assist you

In this Ramadan,troubled soul, divorce the fear

Whatever sinscommitted

The countless wrongdeeds

We will make use of this very chance.

We will not be a victim to our inner manipulatedtactics.We will not surrender to its false desires.

Fear not troubled soul, as He forgivesyou

So turn to Him

He Pardon you

So confide in Him

Be calm, fear not, and submit to Him

Your soul is enriched today

Be troubled no more

For that you believe in none but Him

Sam Said

Copyright © 2010

Ramadan Challenge: #2 Sam "Happiness"

I am showered by happiness

Swimming in a pool of joy

Reaching for the sweetness of hope

Am I dreaming!

Hope is an inner strength.

That revives my soul from within

He hydrates my veins

I hold my breath with anticipation for this Ramadanto last

For my sins to be wiped

For calamities to rest in peace.

For joy and fear to reach equilibrium.

I am longing for forgiveness

For a warm hug, a true honest face

I cannot sleep

Constantly looking for a way out

But one thing for sure

This Ramadan will heal the pain

I hope for, it is useless to despair.



Sam Said

Copyright © 2010

Ramadan Challenge: #1 Sam "Message"

I take the message that this Ramadan conveys.

With knowledge

Acceptance

Sincerity

Compliance

Love

Action

And without any doubt I accept each word you say.

Today, now, and days to come

I rely upon my Lord for whom my soul will return oneday

Days of foolishnessare gone

I celebrate anew birth of me.

I am heretoday.

You are here today.

We are heretoday.

So let's all say

Praise be to Him who guided our lusting souls.

And gave us today to repent

Sam Said

Copyright © 2010



Ramadan Challenge: #3 Halima

Fourth Ramadan away from Hoyo

And it already feels like eternity

Fourth Ramadan away from Home

And it feels like forty years

Fourth Ramadan away from Mumbai

And it feels like a big void in my heart

Fourth Ramadan away from everything I have ever known

And it still feels like I am a stranger in a strange land

Fourth Ramadan away from my little brothers

And it feels like my heart is no longer beating in my soul

Fourth Ramadan away from Hoyo

And nothing, absolutely, nothing feels right.

-Halima Ahmed

Copyright © 2010

Ramadan Challenge: #3 Sadiiq

Freedom

In the land of milk and honey

Free to choose our own cup of tea

Without any dictations

Countless men and women

Are forsaking their bodily needs

To reconnect with their souls

Under scorched summer heat

Millions of excuses can be made to opt out

Yet the appeal still remains

Sadiiq Ashuhle

Copyright © 2010

Ramadan Challenge: #2 Nimo

For 30 days and 30 nights, my body speaks a language of self restraint.

My stomach mutes it's screams

and my head ignores it's aches

My tongue disregards it's heaviy dehydration.

All that is carnal in me yearns to be set free

but as He promised to shackle man's enemy

I will imprison my nafs

and hold my tongue

and force my stomach to bear hunger gladly

For when I do this for Him.

He does so much more for me

Setting a place in His gardens where the righteous will be.

I bear all this not with reservations

but welcome Ramadan gladly.

Ramadan kareem.

Nimo Hussein

Copyright © 2010



Ramadan Challenge: #2 Halima

Decorated were the streets of Mumbai

As Ramadan approached life quickly came back to the city

People embraced and rejoiced the beginning of this blessed Month

Came together and united for the sake of He who has granted them the chance to liveyet another year.

Get more reward

And repent for their bad deeds.

Oh Ramadan!

The sweet smell of watermelons took over the market place

Young and old spent time together

Praying

Cooking

And,reminiscing on the year before

Praying for the souls that perished

So Allah may grant them ease and comfort

The city has always been beautiful

But it embodies a whole lot radiant elegancy around this time

Colorful lights add more spark making it even more beautiful

The sweet melodies sound of Adhans throughout the city tranquilizes your heart andsoul.

Oh,Mumbai how I miss you!



-Halima Ahmed

Copyright © 2010

Ramadan Challenge: #2 Sadiiq

Estranged:

With the commencement of the blessed month

Our minds are fully ready to take upon the challenge

Yet our bodies are lacking few steps behind

Still conditioned in that eat-when-you-can-track

Come to think of it, better had hit upon that sunnah of Mondays and Thursdays

Best preparation and remedy

Unfortunately forgotten in these modern times

Note: Two down, and 27 or 28 left.

Sadiiq Ashuhle

Copyright © 2010

Ramadan Challenge: #1 P.O.S

What have you got?

It's Ramadan

A chance of a life time

That we wait for long time

Let's forget about crime

And the hard feelings this time

It's a chance

To ask for forgiveness

So the river of paradise can flow towards us

To pray so the devil can be chained for ever

Please let's keep away the anger

And stay cleaner

Let's forgive

And motive others about Ramadan

It's a month of blessing

Its amazing month

It is the waited month of the year

It's a month

Where da gates of hell is closed

And the heavens are open

The devil is chained

And the angels are free

Our prayers are heard

So let's pray and be strong

Fast for the sake of Allah

And follow the umah

This world is a journey

Just like a thousand miles

It will come to an end

This world is like a school

You go and finish

If you pass the taste

Then you will go high

Den you live and die

If you got good deed den u go high

And if you take advantage of this month

Allah will take you high

So let's ask what have we got for Ramadan?



Poet of The Streetz (P.O.S)

Copyright © 2010

Ramadan Challenge: #1 Mabsud

-- We don't eat nor do we drink from dusk to dawnFrom the sunrise to sunset

From the Adhan of Salatul Fajr till Salatul Magrib

Because our Lord; Allah (swt) ordered us to keep fast

For we are in the blessed month of Ramadan

A month when our duas are elevated and answered abundantly

A month when our pleas for forgiveness are accepted

A month when our worries are vanished and replaced with a humble ambiance

A month aimed to increase our good deeds and lower our sins

A month that is blessed by the presence of countless angels

A month where good actions are rewarded with double its hassanats

A month for bettering family ties

A month to give and not expecting anything in return

A month to share your wealth with the needy

A month to cleanse your soul of its impurity

A month to remember how fortunate you are and to be grateful for what you have

A month to perfect friendships and relationships

A sacred month to give thoughtful prayers for the brothers and sisters who did not make it for this Ramadan

The month of Ramadan is beyond the feeling of hunger

Its truly a holy month to better yourself a Muslim and human being

bettering



Mabsud A

Copyright © 2010

Ramadan Challenge: #1 Nimo

11 Months

For 11 months, I have been hungry when you have dined and energised.

Now Stomach, my good friend, you will not begrudge me this one time in which I may feast

on the bountiful delights of God's treats.

Now my need to be nourished will be louder

than your pangs of empty hunger.

I am doing this for your greed,

So that we may empathise with others' needs

and God's warning we shall heed.

For 11 months, you were given free rein

when you should have been restrained

to wander where you pleased.

All thoughts vile and unkind

travelled in and out of your mind

and hatred you entertained with ease.

You, oh Mind, will not begrudge me this time

To restrict thoughts to love, peace and His signs.

If I am to be given, as you were, free rein

Then we will not leave the righteous terrain

In which God has ordered us to remain.

For 11 months you tasted the acidity

of back biting, gossiping and hateful negativity

and you must have felt that the bitter was sweet

Because you came back again and again

unchecked to eat.

Now dear Tongue I will not be begrudged this time

To correct our spiritual line

for in the end it is He that we shall meet.

And when this month is done

And I have done my job

then for the next 11 months only good will escape this gob!

Nimo Hussein

Copyright © 2010



Ramadan Challenge: #1 Bint Qalin

This Ramadan

My self this Ramadan, I will admonish,
My heart, this Ramadan I'm going to polish,
My prayers, this Ramadan, I'm going to focus,
My tongue, this Ramadan I will imprison,
My nafs, this Ramadan I will discipline,
My family, this Ramadan, I will treat kindly,
My friends, this Ramadan, I’ll be reminding,
My scales of good, this Ramadan, I will make heavy,
My love, this Ramadan, I'll spread to many,
My wealth, this Ramadan, I will give from generously,
My time, this Ramadan, with it I will not be stingy,
My sins, this Ramadan, I will convert to good deeds.

My goal, this Ramadan is self improvement,
My hope, this Ramadan, is that I will achieve it,
And insha'Allah this Ramadan,
And many a month after,
I will be steadfast....Insha’Allah!

-Bint Qalin :)
Copyright © 2010

Ramadan Challenge: #1 Halima

Oh Muslim LISTEN

Ramadan is TOMORROW

Brothers and sisters DON't Listen

Ramadan is NOT tomorrow

Argument floods in

Words of anger spreads like a wildfire

Dirty looks exchanged

All because of the moon sighting argument

Each year we bicker and fight

Divide and anger one another

But shouldn't we start this blessed month

With love, unity and forgiveness

This blessed month should pave a golden opportunity

For all

To forgive others so we may be forgiven by our Lord

To respect others

So we may respect ourselves

To appreciate our fellow Muslims

So we may appreciate our faith

This month should not be one of the many reasons wedivide ourselves

But rather a time of unity

A time for reflection

A time to ponder and contemplate

A time for fasting from all evil deeds

And embracing the good of life

A time to better ourselves

A time for reconnecting with Allah

And, a time to set our different opinions and ego aside

for the sake of Allah Ta'aal.



-Halima Ahmed

Copyright © 2010

Ramadan Challenge: #1 Sadiiq

Controversy

The two school of thought are at it again.

Indifferences of when the day one starts?

Tradition vs. New Age.

Manual vs. Science.

Internationality vs. Locality.

With enough credentials established on both sides.

The lines are fully drawn.

Pick and choose which side you are on?

Either way, the day after controversy, we all are in same boat.

Sadiiq Ashuhle

Copyright © 2010

{Group poem 12} Ramadan Mubarak

"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become God-fearing." (The Quran, 2:183)

Ramadan is near,
So let me be clear:
It’s a golden opportunity that only happens once a year,
So be grateful and be sincere.
Ramadan is the holy month in which the Qur’an was revealed,
The sinful shaythans (devils) are sealed,
And the doors of heaven would no longer be concealed.
LOOK!! Take another glance,
Ramadan gives us a second chance.
To wash away the sins we have committed.
So to replace them for the good deeds we have submitted.
Be strong don’t give to temptation,
Be decisive don’t have any hesitation.
If you reached that goal well done!!!
CONGRATULATION!!
-Abadir


A time for a knock at our door
A time for us to embrace what we deep down locked
A time for us to remember a forgotten reminder
30 days, from dawn to dusk
A time for us to regret our behavior
A time for us to ask forgiveness for our insensitivity
A time for us to give pledges for next time
30 days, from dawn to dusk
A time for us to reflect why we forgot
A time for us to understand why we did
A time for us to realize that a change should be made
30 days, from dawn to dusk
A time for us to ensure that next time it becomes dear
A time for us to ensure that next time will be memorable
A time for us to ensure that next time I am not who I am today
30 days, from dawn to dusk
- Zana

Let me begin this poem with - Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
Praised is Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful, Al-Hakeem
“He is the One to Whom belongs the Highest Wisdom”
Sunnah our sword, Quran our guidance, Islam our Kingdom
Brothers and Sisters, the ninth month is at the Horizon dawning
Bright and blessed, let’s get ready , everyday evils are falling
Let’s pray together, let’s come together, let’s seek strength in the deen
Let’s seek for forgiveness for every sin we witnessed and so far have seen.
Fasting equals patience, modesty and spirituality
Fasting equals repentance, peace of mind and equality
Competing in self-restraint and good deeds in every way
Family gathering and happiness in every house and every day
Have you seen a mothers smile in the evening?
By sunset dining , joined together, family, what a joy you bring
Have you seen a Muslim, leaving the Mosque at night?
The feeling for Laylat al-Qadr is a feeling, simply you can’t fight.
“(The night is) Peace until the rising of the dawn.”
The miracles at that night, what else you asking for
Let me end this poem by saying - Alhamdulillahi Rabbil Alameen
Praised is Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful, Al-Hakeem
I wish all my family, my friends, their family & friends, all the Muslims around the world
RAMADAN KARIIM
- Pen 'N' Paper


Ramadan is:
Time to reflect
Ponder and contemplate
Worship and repent
Turn to your Lord
Cleanse your heart
Rejuvenate your soul
Ask for His guidance
Blessings to pave your path
Wisdom to illuminate your spirit
Ramadan is asking your Lord to grant you
Compassionate heart to help
Courage to speak out
Strength to resist the shaitan
Ramadan is a time of reflection
Time to build a strong wall of faith
To sustain you throughout the year.

Abadir Hashi, Zana Haji Hashi, Pen 'N' Paper and Halima Ahmed
Copyright © 2010

Wake Up Somalia

Many Somalis ask what inspired sahnun and me
We like to respond by saying it is your parents and their legacy
You see? Chances are you came from a Somali refugee
Who left back in the 80’s or 90’s
Left everything they got, to provide a better life for you and the rest of your family
But the thing is when they left to save you? They left behind an entire generation of young Somalis
Somalis who would have been sharing poetry here today about their country
But instead of talking about their country like you and me they live through it
In Somalia there is no figurative language, what we think our hyperboles are a reality
And that’s what troubled sahnun and me
How kids our age do not have the same opportunities
So to solve this we follow in your parents foot steps
They gave up their lives in order to save you
And by saving you, in a sense they are saving the Somali youth
And that is what WakeUpSomalia is trying to do

Today I ask you “walaalo” to take a moment and close your eyes.
Imagine being in our great nation, yourself watching the beautiful sunrise.
You begin to search for Muqdishu, but you’re stopped by a checkpoint
It’s only then that you realize that the soldier threatening you, is a young boy
You pay the shillings, step in the city, to see what’s going on
Unfortunately all you can hear are the screams of soldiers dying, laid down on the bare lawn
You realize no one here is smiling, unless they’re high on Khat
You yourself stop smiling in fear, because the only music allowed now is gun shots
You see now, more than ever, that the tragedy continues on
There is no pause rewind or fast forward, they WILL suffer on
But now open your eyes, look around and see your brothers and sisters here today
And know that it’s only our generation, the youth, the Diaspora, the Somali’s, who can create a bright future for our people someday.

But if we want a bright future we must understand Alqoon laaan wa iftiin laaan
Which means without education there is no light
Without education our people will forever live in the night… or shall I say sleep
That explains why for 20 years we have yet to wake up from a sleep that is very deep
Sahnun and I realized In order to see the light we must wake up Somalia with the power of education
And then there is no question that we will be a bright nation
Now the question is how?
What if we were to tell you we had to candle to make our people see
We formulated a plan to wake up Somalia with the power of technology
Have you ever heard of the one laptop can save a child campaign
Well ours is one laptop and one projector could save a community. let me explain
Now imagine a classroom no textbooks, I know. it sounds insane
Instead of providing costly textbook for every student, every subject, every year
We would provide a virtual curriculum which will be the 21st century Somali educational frontier
And in order to access it you will need a labtop, and to teach a large body of students you will simply need a projector
Now with this new system of learning that we are proposing we can truly change Somalia’s education sector


Although education may seem like enough
What WakeUpSomalia wants is entire communities to RISE up from the muck
This is why the teachers will be PAID to teach
It’s why the principal will be PAID to lead
It’s why the women will find a new found income
Through our Somali Women’s Cooking Association
All these things can stimulate small economies
Because the jobs we provide are aimed to solely to HELP the needy
But WAIT, lets not forget for one second, about the children
With the American Education Development organization, we’ve created the Somali Studnets mentoring program
Now this all may seem nearly impossible to do
But what is impossible if doing the possible has absolutely no use.
We’re confident, insha’allah, with our project and subprojects combined
Will one day, Insha’allah, allow the whole of Somalia to Shine

Imagine the impact we can have on a community
With a universal virtual curriculum one can easily set up a school very cost efficiently
and that school will not just be a school, it will be the mark of unity
People from all tribes will all have the same equal opportunity
With one laptop and one projector we can educate a class of at least 40
With one laptop and one projector we can hold health seminars for the unhealthy
With one laptop and one projector we can provide life lessons for the needy
The potential of a virtual curriculum is endless
Its impact and use will be timeless
Courses would range from academics to preventing epidemics
We would truly be reviving communities
We can guarantee you with innovation and technology
we can make education accessible easily




Now, I ask you, again please close your eyes and open your ears
I want you to visualize and picture Somalia in 20 years
Is it a country where pirates no longer pillage the seas?
Or is it a healthy place, where people don’t die from preventable disease?
Is it a nation where people of all tribes stand united?
And people live together, play together and eat together with no violence?
Do you see a country, where our political candidates are elected democratically
Where elections don’t result in civil war and innocent civilian casualties
Now can you see the beaches, the bananas and mango trees growing once again freely?
With a generation of educated Somali’s, sitting under their shade, and once again loving their country?
Now open your eyes and just know that what I’ve just said is WakeUpSomalia’s vision
Insha’Allah, all of us in this room, in 20 years, will be able to live it.


We were talking about 20 years from now, lets take a step back and rewind
To the point where our Awoowos were on the front line
Fighting for freedom, because that was their shrine
There work is not done, we are still not free, there work needs to be refined
or else it will go to waste and somalia will never be able to shine
They use to throw rocks, but you can be a freedom fighter too by just donating your time
And that’s what sahnun and I are trying do,
continue the works of your Awoowos, adders, and ayyeyos too.
But let me be honest with you
We cant do it alone

We seek the honor to be blessed with new volunteers and will welcome you all with GREAT hospitality
Because for 1 year and a half, our organization has been worked by only 3 young Somali’s
It wasn’t until this summer that we’ve expanded with a few new dedicated volunteers
And this is the reason, why we’re on stage, to take this unique opportunity
To share our message with this crowd of how YOU can help us with our charity
We need Somali translators, volunteers and LEADERS for our organization
People who share our BELIEFS, have FAITH in this project and maintain a TREMENDOUS compassion
And so in final, before or after we leave each other today and you proceed out the door
Feel free to talk to us, approach us or learn more at www.wakeupsomalia.org

Bashir Warsame and Sahnun Mohamud
Copyright © 2010

United Shapes of We

This could be about how big the divide between rich and poor is,
Or the victims history could be this poems focus.
Maybe I could write about the implications and complications
of being young,
black
and female.
Or perhaps the politics of exploitation and occupation
could be my tale.

But I aint even tryna go
that
deep.
No.
Not realy.

This aint about nothing more than all that cushion for the pushing
Coming to terms with the fact that no matter what you eat
or what you do
some thing's will always be a part of you.
I know it's hard growing up before you should
because your ass, hips and thighs tryna get out as fast they could.
It got harder knowing that baggy track bottoms
would do nothing more than cling to the bottom.
Running track in PE looking like the slightest movement
would expose me.
Lamenting the fact that skinny fit and drain pipe
were not made with my shape in mind.

Hard to be so young really only wanting to stay
oblivious to the difference between her and him.
Not knowing why but just desperate to be slim
taking up hate for my body as a life-long occupation
on a whim.
Not being taught that it's ok to be me
so I do everything to resemble she.
Forcing down my throat the whole grain,
whole wheat alternative to soulful soul food I'm used to.
I tried the rice cracker and the paper wafer
with endless nothing toppings.
Of air butter and oxygen jam,
miles and miles and miles
I ran
performing perfect squats and lunges
and lunges and squats
to cage in this fat
and hold in this glut.
But the truth is it just aint worth the fuss.
No matter what
I will never be negatively sized
So I make the choice to just love these thighs.
Now when the world tries to convince me
that bones is what it means to be full grown,
well I'll just shake my jelly to my own certainty
Satisfied with what my mama gave me.
Celebrating that femininity is not just her or her
or even me
it's in all the different forms of sexy
in the United Shapes of We.


Nimo Hussein
Copyright © 2010

Tears

Salty on my tongue as my lips part
Streams from the river of my heart
Expressions of words never spoken
We dream our days away
Without the promise of another day
Wasting precious time on a dying plain
When judgment comes, will you hide the bloodstains
Indulge in life and anything true is superstition
No your soul no longer offers you direction
Your mind wiped, deleted closed off and restrained
The earth is slowly dying, like all life it is in pain
Polluted and raped man contaminates even the rain
The wise and old, dearly departed
The new generation seem heavily retarded
Policies to imprison the innocent
Children in search of heroes’ heaven sent
Unjust wars by the real insurgents
Murderous generals and sergeants
Star spangled banner terrorists
Your propaganda my mind resists
Shackle my feet and wrists
My existence is in the mist
I will be standing when it all comes down
Once your fortress hits the ground
Fear not the repercussions
Never does it register in your calculations
Does winter come before the spring
Does the summer sun make the earth sing
Your just reward time will bring
And for those like myself
Living and watching the unfolding sin
Is our resolve paper thin
Are we only harmless shadows
If this is life then we live it in sorrow

Hamza egal © copyright 2010 all rights reserved.

Heart-warming

You are like the ocean and the rays of the sun
Falling in love and smiling at each other,
Each congratulating on love of the other,
Each saying “Bravo” with love to the other,
While the cold-blooded are decorating them
With their multiple beautiful colours
And their eye-attracting style,
Like that is how you look my queen!
My dear Deeqa and the iris of my eyes!
My soul celebrates for you with love!

You are like the Aries and the Taurus
Each pillowing on the other’s rays,
Each exceeding its lightening rays;
The moon congratulating on the constellations;
While the buds on the earth are hugging their rays
And with them is the similarity of gold’s value
My dear Deeqa and the iris of my eyes
My soul celebrates for you with love!

You are as beautiful as the irrigating river channels!
You are as captivating as the beauty of the streams and lakes!
You are as pretty as the splashing water of valleys and dells!
You are as brilliants as water that falls from mountain cliff!
You are as good-looking as the drizzles of water that float!
You are as magic as the full-blown and fresh farm crops!
You are as eye-arresting as fully moisturised savannah!
That is how you look my dear and darling wife!
My dear Deeqa and the iris of my eyes!
My soul celebrates for you with love!

You are as wonderful as the she-camel, Birmad,
Which got lost from her owner and became wild,
Living in the fresh and far deep in the green forest,
Months graced in the thick and untouched jungles,
Staggering with Loaded heavy ham,
With her youngster in the hugging foliages,
Her colour looking like that of a mirror!

Allow me to illustrate for you:
The conclusion of the wisdom;
And the motif of the objective’
That is bolstered by the love;
Your love shakes my soul!
I need you like water and food!
You are the drug that relieves me!
And comforts me when I am sick!

Mohamed Abdikaadir Daud (Stanza)
Copyright © 2010


NB: This poem was originally written in Somali language by this poet and he then translated from Somali to English

For Loves Sake

This is for loves sake,
For all the beauty and the heartbreak
This is for the world and it's current state
For knowing love will be out so we will wait.

It's all going to plan
and the sterling is worth more than man
They've made it clear that yes they can
Snub the poor and to the ill-gotten hold out their hand.

We know that life has been bought and sold on the back of it
of all goodness being shifted to make room for it
Of all the pain of feeling so great you're not sure it will fit
where your little heart ought to contain it.

Since love gave life how do we still find ways to hate and to kill?
To maim, rape and steal and force our victims to foot the bill?
Is money and oil and grease and dirt
The measure of what our humanities worth?

No, life has to be for loves sake,
For all the beauty and the heartbreak
It has to be to take the world out of it's current state
For love to out we shouldn't have to wait.

Nimo Hussein
Copyright © 2010

Each decision has a reaction

-- I am the one, the murderer
The killer of my own dreams and ambitions
Self doubt and procrastination were my weapon of murder
I remember when i went on my self destructive rampage, it was during the winter of 0'7
Those cold winter days seemed endless and ever so lonely
I immediately fell into depression
Can you imagine being your own enemy
And people trying to protect you from yourself?
And hating yourself to the point of thinking constantly about suicide and death
No one could stop me or hold me back from my destructive path
I was sicken by the sight of joy and feeling nauseous by the hearing of love
My face would crack by slightest effort to smile
Life became bittersweet and gray
I've contemplated many times in ending this whirlpool or misery i call my life
But Alhmadoulilah, summer of 0'8 was a blessed and memorable one,
I picked up this beautiful green covered book with golden Arabic calligraphy, saying Al-Quran
This small yet powerful book helped me better myself in every aspect of my life
My depression , my anger, my hate, my sadness,were all gone, Ya Allah
I remember being told as a young one, when the hardship of life pushes you to your knees your in the best position to pray, SubhanAllah
Now, after cleansing myself inwards and outwards with Islam, I feel incredibly amazing and blessed
And living a MashAllah life of a true Muslimeen
By the grace of Allah, The Almighty, The Great


Mabsud Ali
Copyright © 2010

SHE

Sings to Love
Lost in Space
Space she wants
Spinster she Woes
Spirits she Hides
Smashes the bottles
Smart she Is
Slack she Takes
Somali she Speaks
Spain she Dreams
Sickness she Feels
Spirit she Seeks
Shelter she Receives
Shame she Carries
Sleep she Misses
Sober she Wishes
Silence she Cries
Sweet she Smiles
Straight she Prays.

Fayzah Muhammad Showsta
Copyright © 2010

Lessons learned from Prison

Last month I had the opportunity to volunteer in a Prison to be part of a book discussion and a poetry workshop with few inmates and a group of people from my school. It was an eye opening experience to say the least. I wrote this poem the day we were leaving the prison where I got to know some of the inmates and to an extent through their poems know their stories also experience the prejudice attitudes of correctional officers there..


Set my foot in the prison for the first time
With a mind that was willing to give and gain knowledge
To discuss and embrace different ideas
Only to realize hours later
That inmates were the worst in our society
And that knowledge could only be given and gained from those willing to learn
And not those who placed fear in our heart and minds
They said, these were vicious criminals who committed horrendous crimes
So, they deserved to be locked up.
Keep your distance, they said.
Do not be manipulated, they advised.
Fear they engraved in our hearts.
Walked in the book discussion with preconceived notions
Assuming the class would get disrupted in 45 minutes
Hours into the book discussion and nothing has happened
Was I dreaming?
Or were these animals enjoying Watsons go to Birmingham 1963?
Hold on, did I just refer to them as animals?
Reasons are certainly attached to their presences here
But were they really animals or people who made bad choices
History has always shown when a group of people are they majority in anything – then expect a foul play.
Media has often portrayed Black men as vultures who prey on others
Just as they portray all Muslim men as terrorist
But why has the media failed to show images of innocent criminals
Guys who are caught and sentenced to decades only to be released after new evidence emerges finding them not guilty
Or men like Jerrmy who were caught at 14 and still in prison at 33
Why must teen crime deserve an adult sentence?
Why an equal crime does not get an equal punishment when skin color is different.
Why must inmates work 8 hours a day everyday and only earn .95 cents as their wage?
I know,
You might be thinking I am playing the race card
And making this whole thing seem like black vs. white
But ponder and contemplate
Upon the jim crow laws
Segregation policies
And compare that to modern day America
Where Blacks and Afro-Latinos are targeted
Mentally enslaved
And labeled criminals
Even before they are legally able to vote
Where no child left behind policy really means no white child left behind
To ensure the education of every kid but that of a black kid is funded properly
Where more than 50% of inmates are more than likely to go back to prison
Where society is build to bring the downfall of Black men
Where the government would rather fund abortion centers
Then invest in the education of inner city kids
With the world against them
And no one to hire them
And everyone quick to judge them
And no help from their government
Born into poverty with a black badge wrapped around their skin
They take the path of destruction
Where colors like red and blue make difference
Where the streets luring you with its lust
But vomits you out instantly when trouble emerges
Blinded by ignorance
Driven by desperation
They land in jail
But just as you wouldn’t be able to clap with one hand
Remember, we live in times where war on drugs
And, War on terrorism
Really mean government’s way of terrorizing people.

-Halima Ahmed
Copyright © 2010

Tomorrow’s gift today

Bleeding through the holes in his shoes
Blisters on his bare hands
The cracks in his feet sting
The birds oblivious continue to sing
He cries can’t hold back the tears
He is hurting, he is in pain
The weather oblivious it starts to rain
The days he counts down, its almost Eid
Burning wood fire by the camp
Blissfully laughs when his mother approaches
The dawn chases the night away
The day he long awaited has arrived
He gets his gift anxious as pirate at the gates of his treasure
He hoped it was a new pair of shoes so the pain would stop
He hoped it was a warm sheet to keep the harsh cold out
He hoped it was a trip to visit the city with his father
He hoped it was a day off from work, a day to play
He hoped it was sweets from far off lands
His father handed it to him
His quivering hands reached out for it
He held it delicately, as though fragile as an egg
He held in his breath, overwhelmed by excitement
He opened the white piece of cloth
Teary eyed he looked up at his father
Take that and hold it to your chest said his old man
Trembling and trying to stay composed he does as ordered
Tightly boy don’t let them ever fall to the ground
Take my hand, and tread this way with me
Take heed of my words child, this is a lesson of life
This gift I gave you, the greatest thing I could ever give you
This might not be visible to you now but the day shall come when it is
This pen and paper will not shelter you now
They will not give you warmth from the cold
They ill not plug the holes in your shoes
They will not sweeten your mouth
Think not that I am unaware of what troubles you
This pen and paper will take you further
This pen and paper ensure your future
Their fruits you shall reap for years to come
This pen and paper will cover the feet of your children
This pen and paper will put a new shawl on your frail mother’s back
This pen and paper will earn you respect in every walk of life
This pen and paper will sweeten your life
This pen and paper will shelter you and those you love from the cold
The problems you face now I could have fixed
The problems solutions would only be temporary
This is me fixing them permanently
Told you my reason, tell me now son are you still sad?
Like the earthquake tearing across the earth
Lightening smile moves across his small and beautiful face
Lungs forward to hug his father, and with three small words
The tears move from the sons eyes to his fathers
I love you papa !


Famo A. L
Copyright © 2010

His reality could be total insanity for you

-- I come from a place where war took over and ravaged a whole country
Where little boys are carrying guns in their hands instead of books
They are too hardcore and brainwashed to the extend of not being able to crack a smile
Because they know soon time, their day will come
Many young souls will be marked for life after these deadly casualties
How would you feel to see a bloody knife
going in and out of their mothers womb?
Would you not be traumatized? Would you not be disturbed?
Sadly, these troubled youths are nobody in this imperial mindset world
Facing this cold world alone ,day in and day out
I tell one of them "I wish I could dry your tears little one
Your invisible tears that is just to ease half your pain?
But he tells me, a real man never cries, a real man never shows emotions
His once radiant and giving heart was harden and stripped of emotions by these vultures that we call our country's leaders
However. this child soldier is devoted to keep his head high
Even when he feels the weight of the world laying on his small shoulders
A kid soldier who probably wont live till his twenties
No Mercedes, no luxury, no honeys
He just has a pair of broken up sandals and a raggedy t-shirt
This child can go days without food but always seem to have bullets on hand
Nothing around him is qualified good
He prays daily to the Lord above to just die
So he can join his family in heaven
The sad part out of all this ordeal
This young boy, was forced to grow up fast
Only 9 years old and he already seen miles and miles of dead bodies
Women, men, babies, all dead
So now I ask you, who's more gangsta?
You who had everything paid in life
No amount of stress
Careless of any tests
A good house
Good quality food
a roof over your head
A solid bed
Or, this young African soldier who seen his mother,father sister die in front of him
Why? Because he killed all of them by his own hands


Mabsud Ali
Copyright © 2010

*May Allah swt forgive any soul taken away by the means of war, wrongful death, violence, oppression and anything of that matter! May Allah forgive their souls of all their sins and may their hassanat be higher than their sins. May the trials of the grave be easy on their weaken soul and May they reach the gates of Jannatul-Fardows with ease and comfort. Ameen!