i
You may write me down in history
With faint acclaims of martyrhood
But we were all heroes for living
We faced and trod in this world’s dirt
And still, like dust, we rise
ii
To the stars from which we came
You won’t see us any longer
But we’ll be back with new faces
Hungry minds, stronger hearts?
There is no stopping change
How many teardrops did we catch
On our shoulders? That day, those years?
iii
We were shot with words, and killed
By discrimination, prejudice and politics
We outlived history, with our soulful cry?
Because we believed in doing Good
Doing good anywhere is good everywhere
iv
We took the time to speak to the people
Without being victims or seeing enemies
You may write me down as anonymous
But I strove to be a good citizen
To laugh and cry in balanced measure
v
Never to be afraid of life’s energy
Don’t complain, if you can’t change it
It takes courage to display empathy
Day after day, don’t be a coward
Even if you have just one smile left
Give it to the people you love
And if you have nobody, smile to yourself.
…perhaps u r the son in this lifetime i was denied! beautiful poem! now go read our masters – mirabai, hafiz, rumi, tagore – & sharpen your quill! ^^~~~~
haha wolf, I have read them all…
…then memorize them…starting with Lao Tzu…i can recite all 81 sutras! top that! 🙂
My generation cannot memorize poetry to save our life…
then r condemned to wander in circles on the same plateau…character is cultivated through diligence…practice is the best of all teachers…the sacred warrior sharpens his virtuosity by attacking his we liabilities…if your right hand is stronger than your left cultivate equanimity! 🙂
and perhaps too i have already all of shakespeare at your tender age? we knows yours is beautiful path into places i have never even dreamed! “Be passer-by!” -The Gospel of Thomas ❤
Powerful, Wuji. May she rest in peace. 🙂
No words that I could share would do justice to your writing. All I will say is, “Bravo”!
Thanks Rie, words are never enough…
Reblogged this on rigzenchomo and commented:
This young poet has written a fitting tribute for Maya Angelou – whose loss is being felt around the world.
RIP Ms Angelou. She will be missed. x
I’ve never seen so many tributes in my life Topaz…
This is what I wrote on my Twitter feed upon learning she had died:
RIP Maya Angelou
A caged bird was set free
released into the world
soared to glorious heights
and now sinks softly into peaceful rest.
Thank you for your beautiful ode to a phenomenal woman.