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Ode To Mumia Abu-Jamal

Life passing by behind bars|

Shackled his physical but not his message|

His words travel through transmissions|

Voice clear with passion|

The passion for life|

The passion for freedom|

Not his own|

But those who are not spoken for|

You are the voice of the voiceless|

And the eyes of the blind|

The tapping on the shoulders of those who cover their ears choosing to tune out the cries|

From you I've learned of the struggles in Africa|

Asia|

And my own backyard|

From you I've learned to love those who do not have much|

I was exposed to the truth|

The suffering and injustice my school kept me from|

A roaming mind|

I never paid attention in class|

Not believing what they said|

I looked to you for advice|

Knowing you would steer me in the right path|

Follow the road to the castle and picket the fence|

Picket with signs|

With letters spelling out their lies|

Cover the letters with the blood they splat|

And speak with the yells of those ignored for the profits they abuse|

Taken away from you and I|

To place that painting on their condo wall|

I write these words in hopes justice will prevail|

So that one day we will all march from land to land speaking with the ones left out|

Forced to the corner|

Exiled from their native land|

FREE MUMIA!!!
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Comments

  1. EmilyApril 4, 2011 at 7:57 AM

    THANK YOU FOR KNOWING ABOUT THIS MAN. Goodness gracious. I assume you've read his book Live from Death Row? You also should really read That Bird Has My Wings and Finding Freedom by Jarvis Jay Masters. Both men are incredibly brave and unfairly prosecuted... as are a lot of incarcerated men and women... but don't get me on that rant ;)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ed VillatoroApril 4, 2011 at 8:28 AM

    I have read it, mumia is my mentor. He doesn't know who much he has done for me. I've been meaning to do an Ode to Leonard Peltier, another unfairly prosecuted brave man. And thanks for the suggestion, I will deffinetly look that book up!!

    ReplyDelete

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