Feb. 21, 2005

Tampa--

Sunday, February 20, 2005 marked the second anniversary of the unjust detention of Palestinian American professor and political prisoner Dr. Sami Al-Arian. In a heartwarming show of support, a
crowd gathered for a candle light vigil in front of Orient Road Jail in Tampa.

The TBCJP would also like to mark this sad occassion with two poems that Dr. Al-Arian recently composed, "We Shall Rise" dedicated to the eminent poet and writer Maya Angelou and "No Longer Afraid" dedicated to the Rev. Warren Clark of Tampa.

Please send any feedback to: tampabayjustice@yahoo.com.

--

We Shall Rise
To Maya Angelou

Like the dream of the slave
You rise
And with the scream of the brave
I shall rise

In honoring the memory of your ancestors
You rise
With my stateless brothers and sisters
I shall rise

Like dust in the sunlight
You rise
And as ashes in a fiery night
I shall rise

You offend
Because of your existence
And I
For my resistance

You upset them
Recalling their past
And I
By holding steadfast

They may trod you in dirt
May cause me all the hurt
Inflict upon you excruciating pain
While they shut me up and detain
By they won't see you broken
Neither would my faith be forsaken

As you've never bowed your head
And never lowered your eyes
I'll continue to raise my fist
And hide my mother's cries

They may shoot you with their words
Cut me up with their swords
They may insult you with their eyes
Denigrate me with their lies
Trying to kill you with their hate
Bury me alive to seal my fate

But they'd certainly
Be shamed and fail
As the free chant and sing
On their march to prevail

So keep your head held high
As I follow you and try
And keep your beautiful smile
As I walk my first mile

They'll pressure and blame
Throw us in prison to control and tame
They'll exile and defame
Lynch us all or shoot and maim
Burn crosses with no shame
Target our children in a dirty game

By why is that a surprise?
Despite their evil and terror
Their falsehood and lies
You shall rise
And I shall rise

You're the black ocean
Leaping and wide
I'm the Mediterranean
With a stormy tide
Staying together
Side by side

It's no surprise
We shall rise
Surely shall rise

We together shall rise

---

No Longer Afraid*

For us to feel "secure"
What price is being paid?
If living in freedom
Why are we afraid?

Fear is everywhere
All around
Perhaps irrational
But without any bound

You can see it on our faces
Sense it in our eyes
You can hear it in our whispers
Feel it in our cries

Looking over my shoulders
Unable to speak my mind
Living in a deviant world
Where the deaf is led by the blind

What happened to my country
For fear to rule the day?
How have my people
Lost their direction and way?

Why do I seem uncomfortable
Why am I not at ease

Why do I feel helpless
As if the roots are cut
From underneath the trees

Why the bigoted policies
In our name and honor
The disgusting abuses,
Despicable lies and sleaze

Why am I tongue-tied
My mind unwittingly closed
My hands unable to squeeze

Why acting like a drunk
Or as one who's affected
With a deadly disease

Why are my eyes
Gazing endlessly
Unable to focus or cry
To make demands or pleas

Why am I hesitant
To look in the mirror?
What would I think
I might actually see?

A person who's frightened
Lost his precious soul
His self-confidence
That can't be me!

I shall regain my unshakable faith
My humanity and dignity
For me to remain fearful
I couldn't be free

So come and join me
My dear sister and brother
As we embark together
On the path to true freedom
In a mission, paramount and awesome

To defeat our innermost fears
Cherish our great values
Defend our rights
Old warriors heroically won

We're no longer afraid
To speak out minds
Shout out truth to power
To stand up for justice
And march tenaciously in unison

* This poem is dedicated to Rev. Warren Clark, and his colleagues.

-----END.