We Had Him



We Had Him by Maya Angelou

Beloveds, now we know that we know nothing,
now that our bright and shining star can slip away from our fingertips like a puff of summer wind.

Without notice, our dear love can escape our doting embrace.
Sing our songs among the stars and walk our dances across the face of the moon.

In the instant that Michael is gone, we know nothing.
No clocks can tell time. No oceans can rush our tides with the abrupt absence of our treasure.

Though we are many, each of us is achingly alone, piercingly alone.
Only when we confess our confusion can we remember that he was a gift to us and we did have him.

He came to us from the creator, trailing creativity in abundance.
Despite the anguish, his life was sheathed in mother love, family love, and survived and did more than that.

He thrived with passion and compassion, humor and style. We had him whether we know who he was or did not know, he was ours and we were his.

We had him, beautiful, delighting our eyes.
His hat, aslant over his brow, and took a pose on his toes for all of us.
And we laughed and stomped our feet for him.

We were enchanted with his passion because he held nothing. He gave us all he had been given.

Today in Tokyo, beneath the Eiffel Tower, in Ghana's Black Star Square.
In Johannesburg and Pittsburgh, in Birmingham, Alabama, and Birmingham, England
We are missing Michael.

But we do know we had him, and we are the world.


Rest In Peace, Michael Jackson

Comments

  1. Beautiful poetry for beautiful music. Perfect.

    Rest in peace MJ.

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  2. Very nice tribute to MJ!
    I actually thought of blogging about it .. Seems you beat me to it Mama Shujaa tehehe! Good on you.

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  3. Rest in peace, indeed. Maya, that's why I love your poetry so much. Many thanks.

    Greetings from London.

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  4. That was the greatest memorial ever! A real tear jerker - still sniffing - have been for a whole week. What wonderful and moving speeches, poetry, songs, clips on MJ - All, all very well put together. Michael will live forever!
    C. Githiora

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  5. Thank you all. Special thanks to our newcomre C. Githiora who has been reading my posts for a while; but this time, she commented. She felt the need, like all of us. The need to record the day, the memorial was strong. Much love to you all,
    Mama Shujaa

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  6. the poem is written in retrospect indicating just how fleeting life can be, a marvelous piece ,had to just write about it!

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  7. Yes indeed Nairobian, a wonderful piece.

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  8. Oh, yes, we had him. What a beautiful, fitting tribute to a beautiful artist. Thanks for sharing it with us, my love. Rest, Michael.

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