Great poem cum lyric!
He is a radical artist and successfully combines humor, sarcasm and history to good effect. The tone is very similar to "Lullaby for the Hungry" below by the famous Iraqi poet(name below) who died in exile:
"LULLABY FOR THE HUNGRY"
Lullaby for the hungry
Sleep, You hungry people, sleep!
The gods of food watch over you.
Sleep, if you are not satiated
By wakefulness, then sleep shall fill you.
Sleep, with thoughts of smooth-as-butter-promises,
Mingled with words as sweet as honey.
Sleep, and enjoy the best of health.
What a fine thing is sleep for the wretched!
Sleep till the coming of morning
Then it will be time enough to rise
Sleep in the swamps
Surging with silty waters
Sleep to the tune of mosquitoes humming
As if it were the crooning of doves.
Sleep to the echo of long speechifyings
By great and eminent power politicians
Sleep, you hungry people sleep!
For sleep is one of the blessings of peace.
It is stupid for you to rise
Sowing discord where harmony reigns.
Sleep for the reform of corruption
Simply consists in your sleeping on.
Sleep, you hungry people, sleep!
Don`t cut off others` livelihood.
Sleep your skin cannot endure
The shower of sharp arrows when you wake.
Sleep, for the yards of jailhouses
Are all teeming with violent death,
And you are the more in need of rest
After the harshness of oppression.
Sleep and the leaders will find ease
From a sickness that has no cure
Sleep, You hungry people, sleep!
For sleep is more likely to protect your rights
And it is sleep that is most conducive
To stability and discipline
Sleep I send my greetings to you;
I send you peace, as you sleep on.
Sleep,You hungry people, sleep!
The gods of food watch over you
Sleep, You hungry people sleep
The gods of food watch over you.
MUHAMMAD MAHDI al- JAWAHIRI
Thanks Buharry for sharing that poem and the link.
Alieu Darboe
-----Original Message-----
From: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Momodou Buharry Gassama
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 11:28 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: FWD: Mutabaruka - LETTER FROM A FRIEND
Hi!
Thought this poem might be interesting. For more Mutabaruka poems,
see the link below. Thanks.
Buharry.
LETTER FROM A FRIEND
from where i stand
i can clearly see your tormented faces
how you must hate me
i wonder how many think of killin me
of assasinating their countries leader
but again lookin at you all
i see fear
passive fear
fear of death
no martyrs are among you
so i am safe within the confines of the law
to overtax you
underpay you
overwork you
police force you
bury you
black people
my people
victims of society
victims of western democracy
no martyrs are among you
even though our country achieved independence
european rule still prevails
neo-colonialism has its roots deep in our soil
i care not
as long as i am well paid
no martyrs are among you
so i am safe within the confines of your passitivity
to stand on this rostrum
and adress you...
and fill your oppressed ears
with mockin promises
as i speak, i speak for all who are here with me
brown and nearly white
for color, class and creed
has no meanin where the almighty dollar is concerned
and on behalf of the government
here and abroad
i would like to thank you voters
for dippin your finger in the blood
thus markin an X
givin us the wrong to do wrong
you dont have to hear my thoughts
you know them
no martyrs are among you
For More Mutabaruka lyrics, visit:
http://www.ireggae.com/lyrics.htm
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