I  WONDER
 
If The Prophet Muhammad visited you,
Just for a day or two.
If he came unexpectedly,
 I wonder what you'd do.
 
Oh, I know you'd give your nicest room,
To such an honored guest,
And all the food you'd serve to him,
Would be your very best,

And you would keep assuring him,
you're glad to have him there,
That serving him in your home,
Is a joy beyond compare.

       BUT ...
 
When you see him coming,
Would you meet him at the door,
With arms outstretched in welcome,
To your visitor?
 
       OR ...

Would you have to change your clothes
Before you let him in ?
Or hide some magazines
And put the Quran where they had been ?
 
Would you still watch R-rated movies,
On your TV set ?
Or would you rush to switch it off,
Before He gets upset ?

Would you turn off the radio,
And hope He hadn't heard ?
And wish you hadn't uttered,
That last loud, hasty word ?
 
Would you hide away your music,
And instead take Hadith books out ?
Could you let him walk right in,
or would you rush about ?
 
       AND, I wonder ...

If the Prophet spent A day or two with you,
Would you go right on doing
The things you always do ?
 
Would you go right on saying
The things you always say ?
Would life for you continue
As it does from day to day ?
 
Would your family conversation
Keep up its usual pace ?
And would you find it hard each meal
To say a table grace ?
 
Would you keep up each every prayer
Without putting on a frown ?
And would you always jump up early
For prayers at dawn ?
 
Would you sing the songs you always sing
And read the books you read ?
And let him know the things on which
your mind and spirit feed ?

Would you take the prophet with you
Everywhere you plan to go ?
Or, would you, maybe,
change your plans,
Just for a day or so ?
 
Would you be glad to have him meet
your very closest friends ?
Or, would you hope they'd stay away
Until his visit ends ?
Would you be glad to have him stay
Forever on and on ?

       OR ...

Would you sigh with great relief,
When He at last was gone ?
 
It might be interesting to know
The things that you would do
If the prophet Muhammad, in person,
came to spend some time with you.

Poetry Index
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A LETTER FROM SATAN:

I saw you yesterday as you began your daily chores. You awoke without
kneeling to pray.  As a matter of fact, you didn't even bless your meals,
or pray before going to bed last night. You are so unthankful, I like
that about you. I cannot tell you how glad I am that you have not changed
your way of living, Fool, you are mine.  Remember, you and I have been
going steady for years, and I still don't love you yet. As a matter of
fact, I hate you, because I hate God. I am only using you to get even
with God. He kicked me out of heaven, and I'm going to use you as long as
possible to pay him back. You see, Fool, GOD LOVES YOU and HE has great
plans in store for you. But you have yielded your life to me and I'm
going to make your life a living  hell.  That way we'll be together
twice. This will really hurt God.  Thanks to you.  I'm really showing Him
who's boss in your life. With all of the good times we've had..... We
have been watching dirty movies, cursing people, out partying, stealing,
lying, being hypocritical, indulging in fornication, overeating, telling
dirty jokes, gossiping, back stabbing people, disrespecting adults and
those in leadership position, NO respect for the church, bad attitudes:
SURELY you don't want to give all this up. Come on, Fool, let's burn
together forever. I've got some hot plans for us. This is just a letter
of appreciation from me to you.  I'd like to say "THANKS" for letting me
use you for most of your foolish life. You are so gullible, I laugh at
you. When you are tempted to sin, you give in HA HA HA, you make me sick.
Sin is beginning to take its toll on your  life.  You look 20 years
older, I need new blood. So go ahead and teach some children how to sin.
All you have to do is smoke, drink alcoholic beverages, cheat, gamble,
gossip, fornicate, and listen to and dance to the top 10 jams. Do all of
this in the presence of children and they will do it too. Kids are like
that. Well, Fool, I have to let you go for now. I'll be back in a couple
of seconds to tempt you again. If you were smart, you would run
somewhere, confess your sins, live for God with what little bit of life
that you have left. It's not my nature to warn anyone, but to be your age
and still sinning, it's becoming a bit ridiculous.  Don't get me wrong, I
still hate you...... IT'S JUST THAT YOU'D MAKE A BETTER FOOL FOR GOD.

Poetry Index
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

    Poetry Index
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 O P E R A T I O N   D E A T H
 
 This is a tale of an average man,
 Who acts contrary to Allah's plan,
 If you are reflected herein,
 Then repent, and commit no sin.
 
 It was early in the morning at four
 When death knocked upon a bedroom door
 "Who is there?" the sleeping one cried
 I'm Izrael let me inside
 
 At once, the man began to shiver
 As one sweating in deadly fever
 He shouted to his wife
 "Don't let him take away my life."
 
 "Please go away, O Angel of Death
 I'm not ready yet
 My family, on me depend
 Give me a chance, to go back and mend .
 
 The angel knocked again and again
 "Friend, I'll take your life without any pain
 It's your soul that Allah requires
 I come not with my own desires.
 
 Bewildered, the man began to cry
 "O Angel, I'm so afraid to die
 I'll give you gold and be your slave
 Don't send me to the unlit grave.
 
 "Let me in O friend", the angel said
 "Open the door, get up from your bed
 If you do not allow me in
 I will walk through it like a Jinn.
 
 The man held a gun in his right hand
 Ready to defy the Angel's stand
 "I'll point my gun towards your head
 You dare come in - I'll shoot you dead.
 
 By now, the Angel was in the room
 Saying, "O friend - prepare for your doom
 Foolish man - Angels never die
 Put down your gun and do not sigh."
 
 "Why are you afraid - Tell me O man
 To die according to Allah's plan?
 Come - smile at me, do not be grim
 Be happy to return to him."
 
 "O Angel, I bow my head in shame
 I had no time to remember Allah's name
 From dawn 'til dusk, I made my wealth
 Not even caring for my spiritual health."
 
 "Allah's commands I never obeyed,
 Nor five times a day I ever prayed,
 A Ramadhaan came and a Ramadhaan went,
 But no time had I to repent."
 
 "The Hajj was already obligatory upon me
 But I would not part with my money
 All charities I did ignore
 Taking usury more and more."
 
 "Sometimes I sipped my favorite wine,
 With flirting women I sat to dine.
 O angel I appeal to you,
 Spare my life for a year or two."
 
 "The laws of the Qur'aan, I will obey
 I'll begin Salaat - this very day.
 My Fast and Hajj I will complete
 And keep away from self-conceit."
 
 "I will refrain from usury
 And give all my wealth to charity
 Wine and unlawful women , I will detest
 Allah's oneness I will attest."
 
 We Angels do what Allah demands
 We cannot go against his commands
 Death is ordained for everyone
 Father, mother, daughter and son."
 
 "I'm afraid, this moment is your last
 Now be reminded of your past.
 I do understand your fears
 But it is now too late for tears."
 
 "You lived in this world, two score or more
 Never did you, your people adore
 Your parents you did not obey
 Hungry beggars, you turned away."
 
 "Your two ill-gotten, female offspring
 In nightclubs, for livelihood they sing.
 Instead of making more Muslims
 You made your children non-Muslims."
 
 "You ignored the muadhin's Adhan (call to prayer)
 Nor did you read the holy Quraan.
 Breaking promises all you life
 Backbiting friends and causing strife."
 
 "From hoarded goods, great profits you made
 And your poor workers - you underpaid.
 Horses and cards were your leisure
 Money-making was your pleasure."
 
 "You ate vitamins and grew more fat
 With the very sick - you never sat.
 A pint of blood, you never gave
 which could a little baby save."
 
 "O human, you have done enough wrong
 You bought good properties for a song.
 When the farmers appealed to you
 You did not have mercy, this is true."
 
 "Paradise for you? I cannot tell
 Undoubtedly you will dwell in hell.
 There is no time for you to repent
 I'll take your soul for which I am sent."
 
 The ending however is very sad
 Eventually, the man became mad
 With a cry, he jumped out of bed
 And suddenly, he fell down dead.
 
 O! Reader take a moral from here
 Never know, your end may be near.
 Change your living and make amends
 For heaven, on your deeds depend.

Poetry Index
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Prayers

I got up early one morning
and rushed right into the day,
I had so much to accomplish,
that I didn't have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me,
and heavier came each task,
"why doesn't GOD help me" I wondered,
He answered, "But you didn't ask",

I tried to come into GOD's presence,
I used all my keys at the lock,
GOD gently and lovingly chided,
"My servant you didn't knock".

I woke up early this morning,
and paused before entering the day,
I had so much to accomplish,
that I had to take time to pray.

Poetry Index
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Things that just make ALOT of sense of life

I've learned that you cannot make someone love you.  All you can do is be someone who can be loved.  The rest is up to them.

I've learned that no matter how much I care, some people just don't care back.

I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.

I've learned that it's not what you have in your life,  but who you have in your life that counts.

I've learned that you can get by on charm for about 15 minutes.  After that, you'd better know something.

I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself to the best others can do, but to the best you can do.

I've learned that it's not what happens to people that's important.  It's what they do about it.

I've learned that you can do something in an instant that will give you a heartache for life.

I've learned that no matter how thin you slice it, there are always two sides.

I've learned that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I've learned that it's a lot easier to react than it is to think.

I've learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words.  It may be the last time you see them.

I've learned that you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I've learned that either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I've learned that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its
place.

I've learned that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I've learned that learning to forgive takes practice.

I've learned that there are people who love you dearly, but just don't know how to show it.

I've learned that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I've learned that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I've learned that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down may be the ones to help you get back up.

I've learned that I'm getting more and more like my grandma, and I'm kinda happy about it.

I've learned that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I've learned that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance.  Same goes for true love.

I've learned that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

I've learned that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many
birthdays you've celebrated.

I've learned that you should never tell a child her dreams are unlikely or utlandish.  Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if she believed it.

I've learned that your family won't always be there for you.  It may seem funny, but people you aren't related to can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again.  Families aren't biological.

I've learned that no matter how good a friend someone is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I've learned that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I've learned that sometimes when my friends fight, I'm forced to choose sides even when I don't want to.

I've learned that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other.  And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.

I've learned that sometimes you have to put the individual ahead of their actions.

I've learned that we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I've learned that if you don't want to forget something, stick it in your underwear drawer.

I've learned that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret.  It could change your life forever.

I've learned that the clothes I like best are the ones with the most holes in them.

I've learned that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I've learned that no matter how you try to protect your children, they will eventually get hurt and you will hurt in the process.

I've learned that there are many ways of falling and staying in love.

I've learned that no matter the consequences, those who are honest with themselves, get further in life.

I've learned that many things can be powered by the mind, the trick is self-control.

I've learned that no matter how many friends you have, if you are their pillar, you will feel lonely and lost at the times you need them most.

I've learned that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

I've learned that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

I've learned that writing, as well as talking, can ease emotional pains.

I've learned that the paradigm we live in is not all that is offered to us.

I've learned that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I've learned that the people you care most about in life are taken from you to soon.

I've learned that although the word "love" can have many different meanings, it loses value when overly used.

I've learned that it's hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people's feelings and standing up for what you believe.

I've learned that no matter how fast or how far you go, you can't outrun God.

I've learned that no matter how far away I've been, God'll always welcome me back.

I've learned that love is not for me to keep, but to pass on to the next person I see.

I've learned that even if you do the right thing for the wrong reason, it's still the wrong thing to do.

Accomplishments

I painted a picture-green sky-and showed it to my mother.
She said that's nice, I guess.
So I painted another holding the paintbrush in my teeth,
Look, Ma, no hands. And she said
I guess someone would admire that if they knew
How you did it and they were interested in painting which I am not.

I played clarinet solo in Gounod's Clarinet Concerto
With the Buffalo Philharmonic. Mother came to listen and said
That's nice, I guess.
So I played with the Boston Symphony,
Lying on my back and using my toes,
Look, Ma, no hands. And she said
I guess someone would admire if they knew
How you did it and they were interested in music which I am not.

I made an almond souffle and served it to my mother.
She said that's nice, I guess.
So I made another, beating it with my breath,
Serving it with my elbows,
Look, Ma, no hands. And she said
I guess someone would admire if they knew
How you did it and they were interested in eating which I am not.

So I sterilised my wrists, performed the amputation, threw away
My hands and went to my mother, but before I could say
Look, Ma, no hands, she said
I have a present for you and insisted I try it on
The blue kid-gloves to make sure they were the right size.

Poetry Index
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Didactica Nova

How many fingers have you got on one hand?
Five, replied the child.
So, how many do five and five make?
Eleven, comes the answer.
Can you blame me for getting cross with you?
Didn't I say count?
Why can't you understand
And answer like all the rest!
What if everyone answered like that?
What would happen if nobody understood?
How many fingers have you got on hand?
Five, replied the child.
Well, how many on two hands?
Eleven, comes the answer.
The blows fall.
On the hand with five fingers,
One the hand
    with six.

Grete Tartler (translated by Andrea Deletant & Brenda Walker)
 

Poetry Index
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND
One night a man had a dream.
 

He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord.
 

Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.

For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord.
 

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand.
 

He noticed that many times along the path of his life, there was only one set of footprints.
 

He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.
 

This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it.
 

"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way.
 

But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints.
 
 

I don't understand why, when I needed you most, you would leave me."
 
 

The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you.
 
 

During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints in the sand, it was then that I carried you."
 

Poetry Index