There's No Shape for the Change in me...

Some poems from China (before becoming Muslim) written during fall '06...nothing is edited (save for grammatical errors). More poems might be up in the future from China, but here are three for now. Enjoy:

The Selfish Self
(Inspired by: a child in the subway with no arms)


My pocket only goes so deep,
So then I guess...
So does my heart.

I'm sorry I'm an American with a couple of pounds to spare, but got no change for me to share....
Only got green eyes and yellow hair pink grey sneakers that I wear!

But I swear...


I do care.


I'll give you a smile and a wave, as if that could somehow save:

The child moaning, arms burnt off,
a stub, a nub, an echoed cough
that travels through the holes in my head,
and I think this time tomorrow - this kid could be dead


Pity wasn't prepared and sympathy was sleeping.
Even the guilt that I felt - I was selfishly keeping.

Diverting my eyes,
Erasing my smile,



Foolish, but 'smart' to walk away,

and anyway -

by tomorrow I knew I'd forget today...




ONE EYED DEVIL
(Inspired by: Chinese villagers who lived in ancient caves...lived very modestly...yet still had flat-screen tvs)




One eyed devil everywhere.
Never winks. Always stares.

Even in the caves,
you Cyclops.
you Monster.
Taking the precious with your succulent sponsors,

Go AWAY.

Leave them ALONE.

They don't know the dangers you possess between the buzzing of your Technicolor shows!

Too much of you and we forget the earth

If we see the view through your flat eye we get -

Only half
of what it's worth.






Short Shorts
(Inspired by: Wearing short shorts and feeling embarrassment, questioning my values)


Culture gone lazy lemon sour,

Memories...!
Sweet with the taste of American apple pie,
Blue birds in the sky...

It's not too late.

(And) as the world laughs,

I look down at my short shorts and wonder -
if it's time 
we change.