Tribute to Nayo Watkins
Tufara Waller Muhammad
This poem was written as a tribute to Nayo Watkins and the many other women who fight for the children of the world.
"Momma Nayo" worked for many decades as an artist, poet, playwright, author, political strategist, educator, and activist. She was the mother of nine biological children, and the grandmother, great-grandmother and Godmother to many others. She was the founder and executive Director of the Mekeye Center, an organization that implements programs to help dispel preconceived prejudices about children, specifically children of color, with learning disabilities, and emphasizes using the arts to assist these children with different learning styles.
Mama Nayo transitioned January 20, 2008 and will forever be missed and remember by all of us here at Highlander.
Yet We Labor
over the chatter innocence of the children
who have not had the chance to dream
molested and smothered by BIG BROTHER
who calculates and researches what they eat, drink, watch and wear
Children denied the dreams of freedom, to use light sparklers to write their names in the sky
and revolution
and evolution
Yet we labor
Babes who have Never been allowed
to see the sun to hold the light in their hands
in their hearts, in their beings
Yet we labor
with these souls, these multi CULT tural
Mutilated tone deaf offsprings
who do not sing cause they cannot hear
hear them syncopated melodies that ring
with the spirits of their ancestor
Yet we labor
With these babes who have become consumed
by the repetitive rhythmic themes of this urbanization, so called civilization
Consume, lie, Multiply, die
Consume, lie, Multiply, die
Yet we labor
We mothers, we spiritual midwives
who strive to bring life to these seedlings
with the lightless eyes
Striving to prevent the duplication of the lifeless liars.
Yet we labor
Bringing those who will come to our bosoms
holding them delicately tight, with our wings
We feminists who bring divine Protection
We Spiritual wet nurses who suckle
and rear the forgotten seeds
Yet we labor
we who understand the calculation Shaton
we labor
we labor
we labor
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