Opal Palmer Adisa

Editor's Note:

Happy birthday to you, Opal, and thank you for celebrating it with the Asili family during the Asili Nights from November 5, 6, and 7, 2007 in Miami.
Your large creative presence was the sweetness in the event, the veritable frosting on our cake.
Editor

THEY WILL LIVE

some of us
have become
expert victims
caught in the luxury
of mental enslavement
some allow others
to tell us who we are
predict and determine
our children’s demise
allow others
to promote
the myth that has become
our reality
that we now readily
accept as the truth

but some other of us
know that lies abound
as flies in summer
and we are not waiting
around to bury our sons
we refuse the terms
niggah dogs
bitches and whore
refuse
to allow others
to name us
or attempt to stymie
the success of our progeny
some of us have always
known our sons
were not bound for anybody’s jail
decried the lie when it started floating
around in the 80’s
about black boys being endangered
we made them in danger of extinction
we have led them to slaughter
with our passive acceptance
with our refusal to nip the
propaganda before it sprouted
instead we had seminars and
hosted some on of those so-called experts
on our shoulders
for declaring how black boys were endangered
how they probably wouldn’t live beyond their teens
how they were headed for jails
how a black woman couldn’t raise a black boy
and all other kinds of nonsense
puppeteers making money off our sons
at our expense and we paid them
and went to listen to them
and labeled them experts
of the crisis
when the real crisis was our minds
our minds that are still snared by our enslavement
and now some of our sons don’t think they have
anything to live for
now some of our sons kill each other without a second
thought
for after all they are engendered
they will end up in jail or dead
they have nothing to lose

and I want to know
how much longer
are we going to accept death
as the only means to salvation
how much longer
are we going to allow these killings
how much longer people
before we say no
our sons and nephews and cousins
and potential lovers and husbands
are not endangered
their future is not to be incarcerated
they are not niggahs
gangsters scrubs
no good or trifling
they are loved and wanted
they are loved and educated
they are loved and respectful
they are loved and contributing to the community
they are with us and will continuing to be with us
for a long and meaningful life
and we can make it happen
just like me made freedom happen
when we decided enough of being slaves

we can and must turn this around
let us put flowers and balloons
and toys outside the homes
of all the boys that are alive
and tell them we love them
tell them we honor them
tell them we are not going to lose them
tell those who have strayed
to give up dope and gangsterhood
give up guns and ignorance
and go on and being educated
and create their own wealth
let us send out emails
and collect money
for the boys and girls who are alive
and help them to go to college or to start a business
let us weekly monthly yearly
have a celebration for the boys
who are alive and among us
let them know
we are not going to stand back anymore
and watch them go to jail
watch them play some kind of ball
when can’t read and someone else
has to manage their money for them
let us celebrate them while they are alive
give them a reason to live

let us each week select
a gangster or dope-dealer
or young man in our community
who is in limbo and let’s love him
into safety
let him hear from the community
that we are not going to allow him
to go out like that and take others in the process
let us be a community again
let us stop making a ritual of death
with these expensive funerals
and public display of love
let us make a ritual of life
my people
let us make a ritual of life
let us redefine who we are
let us no longer give credence
to those who proclaim doom
let us worship the living
let’s us speak what we want
to happen
let us take back our community
let us determine to protect
and guide our children
let us dismantle the jails
let us eradicate the need
to resort to violence
let us truly love us
and speak our name
in love and with love
let us proclaim
loud and unequivocal
that our sons will live
our sons will live
will live to be wise old men
will live protected
will live productive
will live because we will it
our sons and daughters will live long
will live into love
they will live
will live will live

Birthday poems for young relatives

Fully a Teen
For Kathryn

What a difference a year makes
especially now that you’re thirteen

An occasion to be your own person
and not follow the crowd

Time to value who you are
and take pride in yourself

It’s a season of choices
and considering all options
before you act

It’s the era of reciprocation
and treating others as well or better
than you want to be treated

It’s learning to truly love yourself
and be thankful for all that you have

It’s the occasion to pray for those you love
and know they can only love and give you
what they can , and often it is not what you want
but you bless them still and continue to love yourself
fiercely

Thirteen is the time for fun
for falling in love with boys weekly
for trying out new things and discovering
in the process who you are
it's being a young lady and a little girl too

It’s wanting what you want now

But really thirteen is just a number
and that makes you a teen!

Happy Birthday, August, 2007
Love Aunt Opal

Keep Being Steadfast
For Patrick aka Irie Boy

As you grow
into being a boy
a boy who reads well
who plays soccer
who loves and is sometimes
scared

Be the boy who is brave
be the boy who speaks openly
about all that he feels
be the boy who honors
life and strives for safety

Be the boy who runs into joy
and flees from destruction
Be the boy who is honest and kind
be the boy who never gives us
and always tries his best

Be the best boy you
know how to be
Ask for help when you need it
Be kind to others
Take care of yourself
Live life with vigor and pleasure

For life awaits you
to make a contribution
Life wants you to be happy & safe

Happy Birthday, July 2007

Love Aunt Opal

Miss Six (6) Year Old Little Lady
(for Ciera - Happy Birthday)

I counted
six stars in the sky
then I ran up six stairs
I have six friends
and six pretty dresses that
that I wear to church

I wake up at 6 in the morning
even on Saturdays
when I don’t have school
Mommy says
Ciera go back to bed
but I'm wide awake
and ready for cereal

We have six chairs
in the kitchen
six windows downstairs
six pairs of shoes
lined up at the door
I have six dolls
and six stuffed animals
and six dollars too

I want six pieces of candy
Six picture books
Six elephants walking in line on my street
Six swings in my back yard
Six gold-fishes and
Six kisses from Mommy and Daddy

Six sure is a special number
You know why
I am six years old
I am declaring six
to be the most important number in the world
at least until next year
when I’ll be seven

Young Man

(for Jawara, my son off to college)

you’ve got
all that it takes
so handle your business
that means always
respect yourself
walk away
from those who would
disrespect you
don’t take advantage of anyone
even though you can

remember to be generous
so goodness
will be under your feet
forever

always do your best
even though you can
get by doing less
make excellence
be your mirror
don’t be a follower
the world desperately needs
all your extraordinary talents
don’t allow negative people
or situations to cause you
to descend into pessimism
sacredness
was feed to you
in the womb
life is good and very good
if you keep your eyes
on what is true and what is
beautiful
keep your siblings
and your family close
seek help when you are
distressed or overwhelmed
take time for yourself
to be alone with your thoughts
allow nature to guide you
value your mistakes
and all that they teach you
continue to run and participate
in activities that give you pleasure
remember to laugh at yourself
sometimes
laugh a lot and make others laugh
don’t ever be afraid to go for what
you really want
regardless of the effort
or the time it may require
or what others might say
be fearless
be determined
be true
you are a blessing
you are love
you are my gift
to the world
you can never stray
from my love
go now with confidence
knowing love is always
a constant shadow
protecting you

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Cover Design: Joseph McNair