Group Poem 15 - tribute to Mumia Abu Jamal "Prince, Father of Jamal"

Silence.

Shelter brought a pack of panthers, suffering violence,

Silence.

After racism oppressed the mother’s pride of a lioness,

His silence.

Worthy of credence.

Prince, father of Jamal,

Hold faith in the palm

Of your hand.

Let me hold the other, united we stand!

Life didn’t cast a pall of gloom over you.

Three decades of uncertainty is what you lived through.

Justice? Reproached for being unjust.

Supreme Court you lost my trust!

You found him guilty, without proving guilt!

Shot! Blood shed on the floor, now you wish to see him wilt

In a cage!

Justice? Be an outrage

Against dignity!

You wish to see him on his knee and plea.

Guilty?

Let me bring you back to reality.

Hate and racism pulled the trigger,

"Yeah, and I'm going to help them fry the nigger"

Where do we go from here?

When judges have nothing to fear?

When judges put lives on the line?

When judges commit crime?

When judges invite liars to the court?

When judges don’t follow the laws neither have heart?

When judges judge and hate the other colour?

When racists, filled with hatred, come to power?

You accuse an innocent man!

We support, father of Jamal to the best we can.

From Paris to Berlin, walking his street

“Rue Mumia-Abu Jamal” generating more heat

Than light, because of injustice and its shadow,

Wishing to see another widow!

Prince, father of Jamal, we shout the place down!

You already succeeded to the crown!

If suffering was meant to be.

“With hardship comes ease” Trust in the Almighty!

Dedicated to a man, who is sitting somewhere for too long

Where he shouldn’t sit, you showed the world how strong

You are, we feel your tragedy!

We pray for remedy!

We fight your enemy!

We start

With your art

Putting Pen to the Paper

Pen 'N' Paper

Copyright © 2010

Dear Beauty

I question you, beauty; if I can purchase you in the black market,

Trade unattractiveness, to attract superficial, that considered me no asset,

See, my complexion is too cheap, Beauty,

despite the fact that “beauty is skin deep” Beauty,

they will never sell me next to you, Beauty,

Society has paralyzed me, blinded me to embrace the blessings,

Led me to undervalue God's creativity of his perfections, 

Convinced me that I am poor quality, in the eyes of you, Beauty,

That I am inferior to those with silky hair, and light skinned,

That I am too fat to gain attention, so I starve to be thin

till I puke all have within, until I remain with –not a thing,

Elders spoke before “doqon iyo habeen baa madow!” 

But even the nights have moon and stars that glow,

So Beauty, I ought to have qualities that show!

(Qualities that undermine my ashy elbows,)

I question you, beauty; if I can purchase you in the black market,

Trade unattractiveness, to attract superficial, that considered me no asset,

Poet's note: The Full Poem is written elsewhere, will share soon! 

Yasminah Somalia Mohamed

Copyright © 2010

Page: http://www.facebook.com/Somalia1

Group Poem 15 - tribute to Mumia Abu Jamal "Framed"

A man, an activist, a father

An inspiration, a fighter, a truth seeker

Mumia is many things, but not a murderer

Where’s the justice so many speak about?

The justice that includes all, where no ones left out

His case is known across the land

Nonetheless real defence is banned

Till this day appeals have been denied

Is it because justice ain’t really blind?

It was that fateful day December 9th, 1981

That led the unfair fingers of a jury, point to one

They were filled with hate and willing to frame

An individual who was not to blame

Since then many have backed his cause

Waiting for his release, imagine the applause

When will you see the U.S. judicial system?

That Abu Jamal is the real victim

Not one to give up and sink in his sorrow

He’s been active and preparing for his tomorrow

Behind bars, behind walls, behind an ocean of hate

A shocking case that is the cause of much debate

Brother Turn to Allah and trust in Him

Amidst all this madness, His light will not dim

These events in your life were written long ago

Seek refuge in Allah from mans worst foe

Remember none can harm you when your protector is Allah

You’re part of the bigger picture, the Muslim Ummah

Remember my brother across the waters

You are not alone and you have many supporters

Nimo Yusuf

Copyright © 2010

Group Poem 15 - tribute to Mumia Abu Jamal

Give Chase

I gave chase to life, now for more than two decades

Everything changed colour, not only the house facades

It makes me wonder, what is it that keeps me going

Back home my father lost everything, but didn’t see him slowing

Down. Yes, he felt down, you would, if you lost your brother

In a civil war, siblings killing one another

Dazzled by the light of confusion

One nation forgetting to embrace their people, giving chase to an illusion

Called retention of power, what power? If you weaken your folk

We all felt the pain, but now we gain, by the wisdom written on chalk

Give chase to life, considered and moderate

Those words are written in chalk, take shelter from the rain seasons fate

Give chase to life, make use of your time

Those words are written in stone, make use of your prime

I gave chase to many things in life so far

Dashing, if you compare life to golf, I never reached that par

Faith tells me to be patient, life can sometimes be lifeless

Nevertheless

“Only in the remembrance of Allah, can the heart find peace.”

Genuinely, these are the times when my heart feels truly at ease

Worldly desires led to more fire in my soul

Relentless, burned out, still didn’t reach my goal

As one desire, leads to another liar

That’s when my soul feels gutted by fire

Give chase to your values and who you want to be

Someone with ideals and use your heart to see

As our eyes will never set us free

From that pre-

Pre-agreed by the eyes

Pre-colonial a throw of dice

Pre-revolutionary by surprise

Give chase to life

Give chase and strive

Pen 'N' Paper

Copyright © 2010

Questions

What does it mean to be seen?

What does it mean to be on your deen?

Why is it important to aspire to have swagger?

Why do some words pierce like a dagger?

Where is the place of escape, which way to run?

Where do people get the nerve to point a gun?

Who are those who lift you when you feel blue?

Who in your lives just doesn’t have a clue?

When will we see the world for what it is?

When will our people get passed all this?

How will we be remembered in years to come?

How will things change when we’re no longer numb?

The road to discovery is paved with questions

To get answers there needs to be deep reflection

Hope you enjoyed some of my expression

If you didn’t then I’m open to your suggestion

Because in order to grow I need direction

Feel free to have a say in the comment section

Nimo Yusuf

Copyright © 2010

Streets

What do you see in the streets?

My brothers seen as bad seeds.

What drags you into the streets?

Is it fame, your name, your game which leads

to crime, minor or major, it doesn't matter!

Your reputation disreputable, all hopes shatter!

Have you ever seen a mothers tear...?

Drops in lonely nights for fear

of her son, creeping through the streets!

Bad news travel fast, running with sweat her sheets!

What goes around comes around!

Cling together, swing together, now you are bound!

Who can now unbreak those broken fragments?

Caught in a cage. Bread & water - Life's essentials.

Think! - There are other ways out of misery.

Think! - Let's stick together and make history.

Think! - What do you see in the streets?

Before you bite in the hand that feeds

you and your brother!

Think of your mother!

Pen 'N' Paper

Copyright © 2010

Hooyo (mom)

And, if I was a painter tonight

Hooyo I would paint my love for you

In great details

And draw your immense compassion

And love for humanity

If I was a musician tonight

I would compose the most beautiful tune

To resemble your melodies voice

If I was the wind

I would wrap you in my arms

And forever and a day be with you

If I was a bird tonight

Hooyo, I would fly across oceans to just get a glimpse of your beautiful face

Halima Ali Ahmed 

Copyright © 2010

Fighting the unseen

Can my dreams come to life?

And all my hopes survive?

Sometimes the doubts creep in low

With persuasion, their seeds they sew

I fear to tread the life-long path

Make mistakes, lose any dignity I hath

I’m looking up and it is so steep

And wishing  life was one long sleep

How can I start?

Can I go on?

Can I last?

Sometimes the doubts march in fast

And force my thoughts to visit the  past

All the years I have tasted

All the opportunities I have wasted

There’s so much for me to do

If I work day and night

It will only amount to something slight

I know that time is so tight

So can you see my blight?

O’ brokenhearted don’t you know

Potential has no borders

Not arrested by time

Or captured by soldiers

If doubt was a prophet, I would never follow him

If he stood for presidency, I would not elect him

But if he was your father, would you disobey him?

And if fear could be seen, I would surely  kill it

If you gave me this  promise would you fulfill it?

If regret was a newborn child

I would feed it no milk, I would leave it trialled

But with your words, would I stand reviled?

If laziness was a violent man

On his freedom, I would enforce a ban

But will you arrest him and stop his plan?

The future is made today

Not next year or last May

Let us hold a funeral

and say our prayers on Mr Delay

One of the men of satan's way

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust

With a big smile we say

The unseen enemies are now defeated

None of the wounds can go untreated

I know the  work is hard

But be assured there is a peak

Stand up and don’t be so meek

Know, after hardship comes ease

It heals pains and all worries cease

Imagine such a feeling

When you look up and there is no ceiling

Imagine that you were a machine

With a click of a button your past wiped clean

What dreams would you create?

What hopes would you ignite?

With all the tools inside of you

Soon you’ll know, they’re not a few

Now healed you stand

The future in your hand

Start it today

Little by little, your efforts will pay

So remember O' enlightened soul

Take no rest, until you reach your goal

By IM

Author's notes: Between many and their dreams are a host of unseen enemies, determined to stop them reaching their goals and maximizing their potential. These unseen enemies have been identified as: self doubt, fear of failure that leads to inactivity, procrastination, laziness, regret, and their allies. The future is like a blank page so don't let the unseen enemies write your story.

Wrong Truth

"Like a pomegranate making love to a cactus tree,

He will bleed your heart dry like the Sahara desert" she said.

Whispering fallacies and fake truths

onto deaf ears that only hear

sounds of a lover’s hearty laughter.

Does she not realizing

that I already bled all my fears and reservations

monthly with my womanly cycle.

And now I am pregnant,

nursing the very thought of him

between my forbearing breasts.

And she

like so many,

friend and foe

mother and child,

alike

whispers wrong truths

Pre-ejaculated

with the intention of aborting my love

with her callous and calculated words.

But someone should tell she

that her fears are not my truths,

and her fears fall on deaf ears

For I only hear my lovers hearty laughter.

Hayat Magan

Copyright © 2010

Break up 2 Make up

What do you do when everything you believed in was her?

What do you do when feelings die and never again occur?

What do you do when rolling this highway on your own?

What do you do when your whole life feels overthrown?

What do you do when feelings of guilt has come over you?

What do you do when you can't admit all those things to be true?

What do you do when you feel down and you lose your smile?

What do you do in a crowded place and you feel lonely for a while?

What do you do when you lose hope and don't know where to go?

What do you do when you get stuck, the writing does not flow?

What do you do when you were two rivers flowing into the sea?

What do you do when the sea was our love, and love were you and me?

What do you do when you wake up and fake a smile on your face?

What do you do when you stare at your phone, hoping for an embrace?

What do you do when you let yourself go, and pretend everything is Okay?

What do you do when your world starts spinning fast, and you can't keep the pace?

What do you do when you still love her but you simply deny?

What do you do when you start to wonder and ask yourself, why?

What do you do when see yourself at a dead end, and look back for a U-turn?

What do you do when your pain and sorrow is nobodies concern?

First thing you need to do is - wake up

You know what they say - break up to make up

Second thing you need to do is - undo the curtains in your life

I know you gave your heart to her - but there is a way to survive

What do you do?

Pen 'N' Paper

Lost my self in London

Lost myself in London 

I know these pavements with my eyes closed

My soul got stolen from this bright lighting city

This was the place that was suppose to save us with pure harmony

But the place is filled with hypocrisy our loving enemy

Who thanks to them bought us here with their selfish envy? 

Aint no way I can start a dream here,

knowing for sure I’m living my nightmare 

Seeing my mum cry night after night knowing the good died with the dirty air of this island

You can see the eyes of the souls that are dead But with luck maybe we can mend their minds again 

But I can’t explain how it all began 

Or how my tears keep falling 

We are all in the same race, racing to reach fame, the money.

 Or most of all back to our homes, our land of the gold

But the memories are buried and folded put away at the back of our minds

What we looking for what we can’t find

Don’t know.....

Been broken for some time 

Feels like I’m getting drowned by the rain Haven’t gained nothing so what’s the point of the pain.

Don’t think I’ll be reunited with myself again

Because I lost my self in London

Idil Mahamed

Copyright © 2010

Racism

Racism has an ear,

an ear that can hear,

each hatred word that comes from your mouth,

and can also feel the angry voice that has nasty aroma just like the nasty thoughts that is in yo little head.

Racism has an eye,

an eye that can see that judgmental look within  your eye and staring at it so hard that your own eyes almost about to fall off...

inhumanly,but i roll my eye back and then looked at back at you..

shouting without voice,f*** you,and educate your self b****...

i see i got your attention on my way sucker,

racism in my book,i called it the race of another mother,

but not mingled as lovers do,coz we are meant to be apart yea..

R ruins

A aimlessly and

 C cries

I in

S sorrow

M mindless

-Fatima Ahmed