A Gun and a Knife
Daddy Daddy come quick here please come
There's a gun in this book dad how come there's a gun?
I went to the library to check out a book
They said it was for kids dad so I thought I'd take a look.
But all I see is killing and hurting-its like a game
Why do they do this dad, do they have no shame?
They said it was for kids dad so I knew it would be ok
To check out this book to read it today.
What's making me Sad dad whets making me cry
Is I just don't understand, I just don't know why...
It's kids just like me dad, an everyday kind of brother.
Who are killing us off and taking us from our mother.
Can't they see dad, see what they have done
They are separating our people where we should be as one.
We have fought and have struggled dad throughout history and life
And now it is Us who are killing each other with a gun and a
knife.
We have made ourselves prisoners dad in our own private hell
The Man taught us this lesson and we have learned it too well.
I think it was a plan dad right from the start
The Man taught us well dad and we took it to heart.
It is making me Mad dad it is making me cry
To see what we have done to see our young die.
All the years we have struggled dad to get something out of life
We are losing it all with a gun and a knife.
Daddy Daddy come quick here please come
There's a gun in this book dad, how come there's a gun?
Copyright ©1999 Island Princess....All Rights
Reserved
I must admit I felt very uncomfortable writing this poem.
Three days before the Columbine school shooting I awoke with
these words on my mind. I have learned from past experiences that
if I do not submit to my feelings in the way of verse they will forever
haunt me. I
cried as I wrote A Gun And A Knife not knowing quite why.
It is almost as if I was weeping for this event yet to come. Please go to
the memorial links below and pay your respects. Thank You , Island
Princess
In honor of the wounded, lost and families of Littleton Colorado
April 20, 1999
All the races and tribes in the world
are like the different colored flowers of one meadow.
~~All Are Beautiful~~
As children of the creator they must be respected.
IF I SHOULD DIE TOMORROW
(a Black man to his son) by Abil Zlyad Shabir
Listen son, while we have this time together
lets not spend it just talking about the weather.
There are black men who are dying every single day
from every cause and in every kind of way.
Many have died in wars in which nobody has won
many have died in the streets from some policeman's gun.
But the saddest thing of all that is so hard to understand
most of them are killed by some other young black man.
So while I have you close, while I have you near
there are things I must say, things you must hear.
Cause far too often people fail to communicate
what they wished to say many times come much too late.
For a black man this world will always be a struggle
for anyone for that matter, but for you it'll be double.
But never think for a moment you cannot conquer anything
always remember your people were once kings and queens.
And although you live in this country called America
your spirit is from the motherland, continent of Africa.
And though you love to emulate your idol Michael Jordan
remember your ancestors drank from the River Jordan.
Many times you've asked me, Dad why all the history
cause where we're at now son is not where we should be.
There is something that is just so terribly wrong
it's like the black man is lost in a twilight zone.
When you see young brothers not much older than you
killing each other like there's just nothing else to do.
Over materialism, a misguided statement, an ounce of crack
I don't want you to think its always been like that.
When you see black men on corners holding up the walls
remember the time black men stood so tall.
All that wasted talent, they should be busy creating--
don't they know their skills are needed? The world is waiting.
There's so many inventions that are kept hid
not to mention the great wonders of the pyramids.
For instance, who do you think is the father of medicine?
There's even speculation about the inventions of Edison.
When you see black women walking up and down streets
jumping in and out of cars for some trick or treat
remember it's only because they have lost their place
but it's a direct result of their man's fall from grace.
And as you grow up being black, proud and strong
it's incumbent on you to try to uplift your own.
If you meet a sister and your heart goes to thumping
it's incumbent on you to respect that black woman.
Cause among all the colors of this universal equation
the world hates to admit it, she's the mother of creation.
Will it be your generation who puts her back on her throne?
Will it be your generation who'll correct these wrongs?
So son, as you meet this world with all its problems to bear
remember Langston, "life for me ain't been no crystal stair."
And if I should die tomorrow by any stroke of fate,
I'm glad we had this talk before it was too late.
ONE DAY OF CHILD VIOLENCE IN AMERICA
9 children are murdered
13 children die from gunshots
30 children are wounded by guns
307 children are arrested for crimes of violence
5,314 children are arrested for all offenses
270,000 guns are carried to school
1,200,000 "latchkey children" come home to a house in which there is a gun, but no parent
Please visit these links and pay your respects
This butterfly will take you back to the index
Follow my Butterfly HOME
