Last Night They Tried to Kill Malcolm! – A Poem

Brooklyn, New York

February 21, 2005

Six o’clock A.M.

Last night they tried to kill Malcolm

But they failed

They firebombed his home

Hoping that he was there

But he was not there

He was here

In the heart and soul of his people

Beating in tandem with every breath they took.

He was where he has always been

Since the day his eyes were opened

And he began to speak.

Last night they tried to kill Malcolm

But they failed…

Look! There he is!

Peeking protectively through the drawn curtains!

His loaded rifle ready

His arms and eyes are steady

But those who tried to kill Malcolm and failed,

Like specters and hungry vultures

Have vanished into the night

Slithering like snakes away from the fight.

Last night, again, they tried to kill Malcolm

But again, my friends, they failed.

A Salaam Alekum he was about to say

When a hail of bullets ripped through his chest

And to the floor he fell

His precious blood being shed for us

For again they tried to kill Malcolm

But again, my friends they failed

Matter cannot be destroyed!

Energy cannot be destroyed!

Love, like his love, cannot be destroyed

Truth, like the ones he spoke,

Can never, never, be destroyed!

Matter, Energy, Love and truth

And yes, Malcolm,

Can never be destroyed

They can only be transformed.

The bullets that took his life

Did not HIM destroy!

Now he is here,

There,

Over there,

Everywhere

For he is truth… he is love

And he peeks from his window

His eyes steady.

His rifle ready,

His voice, afire,

Its truth burning, searing into the very souls

Of those who listen

Those who dare to hear

The wisdom of his words.

Just wait he says

Just wait…

“A fox will not into a fire jump”

Just wait…

Just wait…

Just wait

Get ready

Our day is right around the bend

Those Black people you see my friend

Those screaming off key

Those with empty eyes

Who seem to stare into space,

Those who sell or fill their bodies with filth;

Those who do nothing

But play video games,

When the time is ripe

They too will be ready

To finish the fight

When fight we must.

Those who speak like the demons

Who someday we will have to fight,

They too will fight… or perish!

You see,

Malcolm is there!

He is here!

He us over there!

He is everywhere!

And one day soon,

They too will hear.

That’s why,

Last night they tried to kill Malcolm

But they failed!

They cannot destroy matter,

They cannot destroy energy,

They cannot destroy truth,

They cannot destroy love,

And Malcolm is all of the above!