Talented Ashraf Ashley has released another book of his poetry collection titled “Simply Unthinkable”. He opened his closet and gave What Women Want…Magazine a little sneak preview on what to expect.
The Coming Storm
Out of my heartfelt appreciation
To those who graciously
Over looked my many faults….
Taught me the most…
Loved me the deepest…
And held me the closest….
My dear friends,
Who…
Smothered by the polluting ideas
Of the ……
Pseudo-free West….
The hypocritically
Un-acceptable rules
Of the Middle East…
And the many fake prophets of our time…
-Who use their vast empires
To import foreign garbage-
I fear….You are so trapped!
Lured by the privileged few…
Those that life has bequeathed with so much
But give back so little ….
The Pharisees of Our Time….
Men lodged between 40 and death
Who pray on disillusioned women…
Themselves trapped between
Bitter disappointments….Confusion and loneliness….
There was a time
When that combination repulsed me…
And through the years
I have seen little in its favor
To have my opinion over turned….
But…
Within my tormented heart
Lies a sadness in waiting…
For the storm draws near….
And make no mistake
It is…..Coming…
Carrying with it
The necessary price that
Must be paid
For a triumphant revolution…
And
You women…
Who dwell in this
-You courageous and at times
Naïve crusaders-
Are its front line soldiers….
They that must endure
So that future generations may
Enjoy a more fruitful existence….
For I have borne witnessed
To events such as these…
Long ago
In the land of the free!
So for now….
As the winds begin to blow
And the storm quietly stirs…
Let Us…
Leave behind
The inevitable pain
And far reaching consequences
Of change….
Let Us…
Indulge ourselves
And dare to imagine
White picket fences…
Roses and loved ones…
Let Us…
Allow fantasies
To skip carelessly through
The minds and souls
Of those brave at heart…
Let Us…
For now…
Run wild and free…
Un-afraid to challenge Tyrants…
For there will be
Time plenty
To rehash broken dreams…
Time plenty
To learn from the Folly of Our ways…
Time plenty
To set aside
The seedy parts of life…..
– For they belong in Men’s Quarters –
– You women have no need of them to be equal –
So I respectfully
Ask you…
-For a brief while-
Be kind to Your own…
Permit un-suspecting warriors
To Drink and be Merry…
Encourage tears of laughter
To fall on innocent cheeks…
Allow outrageous costumes
To adorn those…About to do battle
For the time will arrive soon enough
When all that will end!
For I have borne witnessed
To events such as these…
Long ago
In the land of the free!
By Ashraf Ashley 2007