"The truth, always the truth--at all costs"
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| 8994 06/03/2010 PALESTINE (POEM) MARVIN X (EL MUHAJIR) |
| PALESTINE by Marvin X (El Muhajir) I am not an Arab, I am not a Jew Abraham is not my father, Palestine is not my home But I would fight any man Who kicked me out of my house To dwell in a tent I would fight To the ends of the earth Someone who said to me I want your house Because my father lived here Two thousand years ago I want your land Because my father lived here Two thousand years ago. Jets would not stop me From returning to my home Uncle toms would not stop me Cluster bombs would not stop me Bullets I would defy. No man can take the house of another And expect to live in peace There is no peace for thieves There is no peace for those who murder For myths and ancient rituals Wail at the wall Settle in "Judea" and "Samaria" But fate awaits you You will never sleep with peace You will never walk without listening. I shall cross the River Jordan With Justice in my hand I shall return to Jerusalem And establish my house of peace, Thus said the Lord. © 1976 by Marvin X ( El Muhajir) C: JUNE 2, 2010, MARVIN S (EL MUHAJIR) Marvin X is an Oakland (CA) based African-American poet/playwright/activist, one of the founders of the Black Arts Movement. He is one of the fathers of Muslim American Literature along with Sam Hamod. Bob Holman calls him “The USA’s Rumi." Ishmael Reed calls him “Plato teaching on the streets of Oakland." Marvin X has the Academy of Da Corner, downtown Oakland at 14th and Broadway,outside. He also tours and speaks nationwide at universities and colleges, mostrecently at Howard University, Morehouse College, Spelman College, University of Virginia, University of Houston, University of Penn, Temple University, Medgar Evers College, University of Arkansas and elsewhere. He has taught at San Francisco State University, University of California, Berkeley, University of California, San Diego, Fresno State University, Mills College, University of Nevada, Reno. He has received writing fellowships from Columbia University and the National Endowmentfor the Arts and planning grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities. His website link is http://www.parablesandfablesofmarvinx.blogspot.com/ .His recent book is The Wisdom of Plato Negro, Parables/fables, Black Bird Press, Berkeley, 2010. His archives were acquired by the Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley. |
