Raised on the Roots of Knowledge

By Sharif Abdullah

I had started writing poetry and words since 1971 picking up on the poetic language while reading an album cover. I have since written poetry or
Words for close to forty-two years. So, when you the reader explore these writings, be aware of the dates and year that they were conceived. From
each year to the next year to the next year, hopefully there is a growth of maturity and experience that exists in each poem. A few poems are
A tribute to dear and loved ones as well.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796051575

Book preview

RAISED

ON THE

ROOTS OF

KNOWLEDGE

SHARIF ABDULLAH

Copyright © 2019 by Sharif Abdullah.

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-7960-5158-2

                eBook            978-1-7960-5157-5

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 08/08/2019

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

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Contents

A Word To The Reader

Griot

Acknowledgements

About the Author

The Legend Of Gil Scott-Heron

1982

Glory

Abraxas*

Angels Message

Awakening

Black Jazz and Its’ Glory

Chanting Moments

Character

Chasing The Ghost

Childs Cry For A Mother

There Were Times

Choc’ Let Drop

Didactics And Semantics

Doll Baby Eyes

Dwelling Waters, Abounding Air

Earth Tones /Realization

Equative Thinking

Essence Of Nature

EXPLORATION (For The Searcher)

Free Flight

Frighten Times

Goals Of A Wise Man

Her

Hidden Thoughts

Hope Of Mans Needs

Illusion

Let Your Soul Be Free

Ma – B… (Maybe)

Many Wives

Me

Meditation Through Music

Mr. Cool Breeze

Mulatto

Music Of The Spheres

My Buddy Clyde

No Derailment

ODE

On Perpetual Third World Struggle

Quiet Melody

Raised On The Roots Of Knowledge

Raised On The Roots Of Knowledge

Sayings

Sayings Pt.6

Sense of Gratification

Slain Soldier

Survival

The Giant Rage

The Learner Becomes The Wise

The Life Game

The Love Divine

The Sombrero Kid

The Storm

The Wind Sends Its Message

Where I’m Coming From

Will Or Fate

The Creator

A Word To The Reader

I HAD STARTED WRITING POETRY AND WORDS SINCE 1971 PICKING UP ON THE POETIC LANGUAGE

WHILE READING AN ALBUM COVER. I HAVE SINCE WRITTEN POETRY OR

WORDS FOR CLOSE TO FORTY-TWO YEARS. SO, WHEN YOU THE READER EXPLORE THESE

WRITINGS, BE AWARE OF THE DATES AND YEAR THAT THEY WERE CONCEIVED. FROM

EACH YEAR TO THE NEXT YEAR TO THE NEXT YEAR, HOPEFULLY THERE IS A GROWTH OF

MATURITY AND EXPERIENCE THAT EXISTS IN EACH POEM. A FEW POEMS ARE

A TRIBUTE TO DEAR AND LOVED ONES AS WELL.

Griot

Story tellers/advocators of truth raise

high above waves/ surfaces

of waters, the griot flows from continent

to continent spreading truth

and knowledge that rises above the peak of the mountains.

Like the mountains, the griot rises to every occasion in the face oppression/depression…

Whether it is in the primitive ages or in 1982.

There’s a need to educate children

of the present about the richness of the old and sacred.

GRIOTS: Beat the drum, make the communication……

rattle the tambourines and strike the

koras… shine on your vocal

chords slashing against the fork tongue of

falsehood… shine on the knowledge, wisdom