Happy Birthday, Kamau!

Dear Kamau,

Opal and I wanted to give you something for your birthday, so we decided to do something that we hope you will like. I have done a podcast of one of your earliest poems from the Caedemon (did I spell it right?) recordings--one of the poems that I liked from the first time I heard it, you know the one. Yes, "Francina." 

And Opal has livicated a poem for your birthday. We have done this tribute because in your poems and life, you have given us an example of how a life should be lived--on its own terms. You have always written how you felt the poem could only be written, and you have taken a lot of criticism over the years for doing that. But where are the critics now? You are still creating, new vibrant poems and you are still leading the way for us.

Give thanks, Kamau.
Here is Opal's poem:

reinscribing

love is not an ideal

but power to render

truth in the present

daily

despite dismay

and hopelessness

gallantry is not going

into battle shielded

by armor

rather refusing to submit

or be silenced

by corruption

or narrow religious zeal

insisting

that the flamboyant tree

will flame red in july

taking the anvil to words

hammering away like ogun

being the voice

echoing

repetitive

perpetual

you i´ve been loving

long before face and voice

brushed my ears

will be loving you

long after

the feel of your hands

have dissipated

one love

walk good

happy birthday, kamau

opal palmer adisa

***

First published 5/11/07