A Poem for Clara Muhammad

A Poem for Clara Muhammad
She went to the door
when Master Fard knocked
selling red silk
asked was brother there
she said yeah
he in the back
drunk as a coot
Master Fard
sobered him
raised him from dead
so-called negro
Master departed
Elijah in charge
brothers said no
even his own brother
Kallot
Elijah ran seven years
black devils after him
"I will eat one grain of rice
til we kill Elijah."
Clara ran Nation
raised children
Elijah came home
snatched again by devil
this time white
charged with sedition
draft evasion
five years prison
Clara ran Nation
raised children
a little silent woman
disrespected by sisters
who shared her man
in her face
caught on roof
getting to her man
why they dis me
in my face?
she told Nisa Islam
Clara
first lady of the Nation
silent warrior
where is her bio
her mention on Women's Month
No black studies of Clara
comforter of Elijah
chief wife
mother of Herbert, Wallace,
Akbar, Ethel, et al
who will tell her story
raise her name to glory
this silent warrior
who nurtured Nation
those early days
when Elijah fled for his life
from black devils
white devils too.
who will call her name
great ancestor Clara.
I w

as in her house

she spoke to me
As-Salaam-Alaikum.
--Marvin X
3/10/10
http://www.marvinxoneducation.blogspot.com/
http

Imagine what Ancestor Clara went through, surely as much hell as her husband. And she had to prop him up when he was down. And carry the NOI on her shoulders for the 12 years he was away. We understand why Wallace was estranged from his dad and loved his mother so much. Wallace was 12 years old when Elijah finally returned home.

I learned a lot about Clara from interviewing Nisa Islam for her book, yet to be published. Nisa said she shared a room across from Clara's at the big house. She talked almost nightly with Clara off and on for several years while she was a national sister captain. My interview with Nisa Islam is a nine CD set and is part of my archives at the Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, available to the public by appointment. Khalif, brother John Woodford, former editor of Muhammad Speaks said the same thing you said about the poem. He said it's my greatest, so I submit and shut up. What do I know, I just write from the heart. But thank you. Marvin

Replies

Marvin X March 12, 2010 at 1:23am

This is a great, beautiful poem, Bro. MArvin. One of your very best --- and that's saying something!
--John Woodford, former editor, Muhammad Speaks
Marvin X March 12, 2010 at 12:52am

Khalif, you might want to talk with Nisa Islam about publishing her book. She is seeking a publisher. I'm sure she would be willing to talk with you and maybe the three of us could make it happen, even though she is now Nisaya Yahuda. As James Baldwin said in a 1968 interview with me, "It's a wonder we all haven't gone stark raving mad!"
Marvin X March 12, 2010 at 12:48am

Imagine what Ancestor Clara went through, surely as much hell as her husband. And she had to prop him up when he was down. And carry the NOI on her shoulders for the 12 years he was away. We understand why Wallace was estranged from his dad and loved his mother so much. Wallace was 12 years old when Elijah finally returned home.

I learned a lot about Clara from interviewing Nisa Islam for her book, yet to be published. Nisa said she shared a room across from Clara's at the big house. She talked almost nightly with Clara off and on for several years while she was a national sister captain. My interview with Nisa Islam is a nine CD set and is part of my archives at the Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, available to the public by appointment. Khalif, brother John Woodford, former editor of Muhammad Speaks said the same thing you said about the poem. He said it's my greatest, so I submit and shut up. What do I know, I just write from the heart. But thank you. Marvin
DMV

H. Khalif Khalifah March 11, 2010 at 4:59am

Brother Marvin, Brother Marvin,
You hit a Grand Slam home run with this poem. This is the best tribute i have even seen given to Sister Clara Muhammad. Of course my Temple in Richmond, VA has the large brick, two story Community Center building, with a picture of her in the front, second floor window of Sister Clara Muhammad, the greatest MGT of all time. The Building is named for her.
But your words should warm the heart of all Black Muslims. It certainly warmed mind. It also elevated my estimation and respect for you to another level, from the perch it was already on...............Khalifah

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