KLR abstracts art and poetry

So you understand the blend here. A local friend and artist is organizing a movement via art, and I wrote the poem after remembering sporadic events and such. Hopefully I'll read it at the event, after many of my colleagues (powerful writers) will perform - I'll have my body art stand.



__________________________..________________________

“Sacrifice for Your Faith” (A blend of thoughts & memoirs)
Chevalterre Nabil 28 Sept, 09


Shorten your life
like a suicide bomber?
No.
And you don’t have to resist.
You have a life to live.

Shorten your hair
If you’re female or male,
they can take your State ID
for the one they’re saving
across the border.
But they will not take your dignity.
Cut your hair to look atypical.

Shorten your melanin.
They assume to know you
by your stamped face.
The darkness can lessen
with a cosmetic cream.
But not your eyes nor your nose.
But the sun’s loving rays always,
always reblossom your beauty.

Shorten your roots.
They think they’ve tracked you
as someone else.
Transplant them in Japan, Peru, Spain, U. S.
Change the wardrobe,
but do not become acculturated.
You’ll blend in just fine.

Shorten your tongue
Learning English/Spanish
– meant for business
and sometimes, for self-defense.
Speech lessons help.
Don’t worry about the accent.

Shorten your legs,
or hunt for a new set
if you stay.
They’ve got
rohypnol to slow you down
bombs at each stone and hedge.
Hatchets for your arms.

Shorten your name.
They check your Green I.D.
It has your rank, pay grade,
social security number.
Hajimosaraab …
Hajimo…
Haji..
Ha – Halt!

And what saved you,
your wife, and children
was to dial that encoded command number…
that week after 9 – 11…
and there was Captain Ziemba’s crew
over the land line.
“Yes, he is a United States Sailor,
He belongs to us!”

Let us be aware
when we have the opportunity
to do that again,
for another human being.