When I begin writing a poem,
the tears, blood and sweat of  the innocent become my ink
and the bones become my pen.

When I begin writing a poem,
the voiceless become my thoughts and I become the words of the voiceless.

When I begin writing a poem,
I only stop when I find no more pen,
for the bones are gone to the soil ben
And when there's no more ink,
for the tears, blood and sweat are dried up when there's no more heat

When I begin writing a poem,
beyond myself do I think,
till every line makes a sense
and the message is clear and felt.

By Jibril Abdulmalik ©2019

I forgot myself in your smile.
Never stop smiling,
that I might find myself.

I forgot hate in loving you
Lock the doors,
that I might not find what I've forgotten.

I forgot my learning
trying to know you,
now I've become learned.

I forgot my ways
trying to know your ways
Show me all your ways,
that i might find my ways.

I forgot my speech in your voice
Do not stop talking,
that I might find what to say.

I forgot my thoughts in thoughts of you
And in that, have I written what I found
trying to find my thoughts.

—JIBRIL ABDULMALIK ©2019

We've walked too far to look back.
If we look back,
we'd think we've walked too far
from where we are coming from
and too close to where we are heading to.
But If we look forward,
we'd realize we've walked far
from where we're coming from,
but far from where we want to be.

—JIBRIL ABDULMALIK ©2019

We are not all privileged to find shoulders on which to stand
To have a better view of the remaining journey
Shoulders of giants of great stance.

We are not all blessed with masterpieces from which to extract our plans.

We are not all blessed with pleasant sounds
Sounds to which we can dance.

We are not all smiled upon by nature
Some people don't even get a glance.

We are not all blessed with good family and friends
Some don't even cross paths
We are not all given such chance.

We may all be blessed with knowledge
But not everyone understands.

—JIBRIL ABDULMALIK ©2019

Do not think you can ever be greater than you think;
You can never be.
You can only be as great as you think.

You are only as great as you think.
Think beyond that,
And you shall be greater.

Your thoughts are your limitations.
Think beyond yourself.
Think through the heart of men.
Think beyond thoughts.

—JIBRIL ABDULMALIK ©2019