Ankaboot
27-05-04, 05:23 PM
Afraid to Read...
How many words she's read before
She's consumed two thousand books or more
She cannot understand why
This book in her hand
Fascinates her now so much
She's almost shy to touch
Don't think about the words
It's just a book, paper and ink
She reaffirms, reminds herself
A book can't dictate what to think
It invites, intrigues her
More than others on her shelf
Is it just another book?
She sits questioning herself
O Allah, she's so afraid to read...
The wisdom that's revealed
May burrow in her mind
She'll be obliged to admit
She'll be obliged to submit
But will she be strong enough
To live the truth she finds
O Allah, she's so afraid to read...
The hall light is always on
Every night that he is gone
He hears his mom toss in bed
When he slips in at dawn
And the bookcase by the stair
He can see it sitting there
Like a waiting watchful wise-man
Scolding him with care
In the morning will they fight about him
Being out all night
All he wants is to fit in some place
But must he compromise his faith
He can't look himself
Or his parents in the face
He takes the book upstairs unread
Sits it closed near his head
Then counts the prayers he's missed
And lays hopelessly in bed
O Allah, he's so afraid to read...
The wisdom thats revealed
May burrow in his mind
He'll be obliged to admit
He'll be obliged to submit
But will he be strong enough
To live the truth he finds
O Allah, he's so afraid to read...
I sent an email to my loved ones
Just the other day
It's sad
Communication has evolved this way
We use so many words
But have so little to relay
As angels scribble down
Every letter that we say
All the viral attachments
And the passionate insults we vent
It's easy to be arrogant
Behind user passwords we invent
But on the day the scrolls are laid
With every word and deed displayed
When we read our account
I know for one I'll be afraid
That day I'll be so afraid to read...
Every harsh word that I've spoken
And every time I have lied
I'll be obliged to admit
I'll be obliged to submit
Will I have the strength owning up
To each deed I've tried to hide
O Allah, I'm so afraid to read...
Dawud Wharnsby Ali
How many words she's read before
She's consumed two thousand books or more
She cannot understand why
This book in her hand
Fascinates her now so much
She's almost shy to touch
Don't think about the words
It's just a book, paper and ink
She reaffirms, reminds herself
A book can't dictate what to think
It invites, intrigues her
More than others on her shelf
Is it just another book?
She sits questioning herself
O Allah, she's so afraid to read...
The wisdom that's revealed
May burrow in her mind
She'll be obliged to admit
She'll be obliged to submit
But will she be strong enough
To live the truth she finds
O Allah, she's so afraid to read...
The hall light is always on
Every night that he is gone
He hears his mom toss in bed
When he slips in at dawn
And the bookcase by the stair
He can see it sitting there
Like a waiting watchful wise-man
Scolding him with care
In the morning will they fight about him
Being out all night
All he wants is to fit in some place
But must he compromise his faith
He can't look himself
Or his parents in the face
He takes the book upstairs unread
Sits it closed near his head
Then counts the prayers he's missed
And lays hopelessly in bed
O Allah, he's so afraid to read...
The wisdom thats revealed
May burrow in his mind
He'll be obliged to admit
He'll be obliged to submit
But will he be strong enough
To live the truth he finds
O Allah, he's so afraid to read...
I sent an email to my loved ones
Just the other day
It's sad
Communication has evolved this way
We use so many words
But have so little to relay
As angels scribble down
Every letter that we say
All the viral attachments
And the passionate insults we vent
It's easy to be arrogant
Behind user passwords we invent
But on the day the scrolls are laid
With every word and deed displayed
When we read our account
I know for one I'll be afraid
That day I'll be so afraid to read...
Every harsh word that I've spoken
And every time I have lied
I'll be obliged to admit
I'll be obliged to submit
Will I have the strength owning up
To each deed I've tried to hide
O Allah, I'm so afraid to read...
Dawud Wharnsby Ali