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Poems - A Mark of Respect

A Mark of Respect

by liarbird

Mohammad El-sheik runs our little town general store,
taking over from his father Mamood who ran it before
with his mother Ezra and also his wife Tahli Azmo…
sadly Mamood passed away around about six years ago.

Mamood as we heard was from Libya, and a refugee;
a victim of the second world war who was ready to flee,
when Rommel arrived with his tanks and his armed personnel,
to conquer the African desert and the Suez canal.

I remember as kids when we sat at our table for tea,
the grown-ups would speak of suspicion of Arab entity…
‘They couldn’t be trusted, they are thieves, and they’d slit our throat,’
so if I were to shop there was always a fear that I’d note.

Yet Mohammad and me, we attended the very same schools,
his English was better than mine and he never broke rules,
still Mohammad was different, always in the back of my mind,
but religion and culture has a habit of making us blind.

Mohammad supported with vigor the footy, and cricket club,
but he never joined in when we had our big nights in the pub,
so doubts in the minds of the cynics would soon stir the pot,
when the news of the world highlight a new terrorist plot.

Then one winter’s morning I walked to the front of his store,
and with a look of intrigue, I’m uncertain to what I had saw,
Mohammad handed out goods to some derelicts that we all know,
as ‘Jimmy the soak’ and his drinking mate, old ‘plonky Joe.’

I confronted Mohammad with a grin and I gave him a sign,
stating the money they saved will go on a flagon of wine,
that pair live like rats, they’re unclean, unshaven, and smell,
and word is they’re thieves, and they might even knife you as well.

But Mohammad shook his head, and then explained to me why,
Jimmy and Joe must be protected until the day that they die,
for his father Mamood made him promise to look after them,
and refuse to take notice of those with a wish to condemn.

Where my town saw drunks, Mamood saw a much different sight,
for he had been there at the rear first hand observing their fight,
where the rats under siege were an enemy Rommel mistook,
and ‘plonky Joe’s’ hand was the last one he shook, when leaving Tobruk.

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The comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content.

Re: A Mark of Respect (Score: 1 )
by MoZark on Thursday, April 26, 2012 (07:51:04)

Excellent story poem, the rhymes were so subtle, one could overlook them; I did.
How quickly we are to judge and be judged. Have a grand tomorrow…Jack

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Re: A Mark of Respect (Score: 1 )
by liarbird on Monday, April 30, 2012 (04:00:27)

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Re: A Mark of Respect (Score: 1 )
by maryanns on Thursday, April 26, 2012 (12:10:21)

Viva la difference... multicultural wisdom close at hand adds zest to life, eh? So much history and philosophy in this well written piece, thanks for an outstanding and really worthwhile read this morning. Best wishes to you and yours, Mary Ann

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Re: A Mark of Respect (Score: 1 )
by liarbird on Monday, April 30, 2012 (04:03:52)

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Re: A Mark of Respect (Score: 1 )
by TheJettSet27 on Thursday, April 26, 2012 (12:57:11)

That was a fantastic story-poem.

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Re: A Mark of Respect (Score: 1 )
by liarbird on Monday, April 30, 2012 (04:24:48)

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Re: A Mark of Respect (Score: 1 )
by TheJettSet27 on Thursday, April 26, 2012 (12:57:47)

That was a fantastic story-poem.

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Re: A Mark of Respect (Score: 1 )
by butterflyzrfree on Friday, April 27, 2012 (04:49:38)

Lindsay! Wonderful poem. Very enjoyable, and a slight change from the usually Lindsay trademark 18 stanza outback yarn. Carries a very good old message for us all, in a new story. We need to hear these stories all of the time, to prevent hate, stimulate compassion...

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Re: A Mark of Respect (Score: 1 )
by liarbird on Monday, April 30, 2012 (04:27:58)

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Re: A Mark of Respect (Score: 1 )
by deepali on Friday, April 27, 2012 (09:01:23)

I learn how a story should be told.
very interesting!
warm wishes,
D.

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Re: A Mark of Respect (Score: 1 )
by liarbird on Monday, April 30, 2012 (04:30:09)

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Re: A Mark of Respect (Score: 1 )
by omegapaf on Friday, April 27, 2012 (09:51:47)

backwards and forwards they went across that desert in WW 2. british, ANZACS, indians, poles, germans....and we are still bombing libya nowadays. i never saw the difference between one human being and another. no matter what their colour or religion. makes it tough to live in a city where a gang of skinheads beat an iranian student to death, because they thought he was an iraqi.....sigh - respect - paul and brown hound.

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Re: A Mark of Respect (Score: 1 )
by liarbird on Monday, April 30, 2012 (04:34:26)

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Re: A Mark of Respect (Score: 1 )
by rondo on Friday, April 27, 2012 (10:43:24)

whether tickling the funny bones or pricking our conscience your a master of poetry...another fine write my friend Very Happy

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Re: A Mark of Respect (Score: 1 )
by liarbird on Monday, April 30, 2012 (04:37:47)

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Re: A Mark of Respect (Score: 1 )
by PTROCK4950 on Friday, April 27, 2012 (17:13:28)

Much to learn from this piece, very well written as well as touching and inspiring. Great one mate!

Cheers.

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Re: A Mark of Respect (Score: 1 )
by liarbird on Monday, April 30, 2012 (04:42:43)

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Re: A Mark of Respect (Score: 1 )
by Ramonez on Friday, April 27, 2012 (20:30:44)

Well written, liarbird. I enjoyed this.

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Re: A Mark of Respect (Score: 1 )
by liarbird on Monday, April 30, 2012 (04:45:49)

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Re: A Mark of Respect (Score: 1 )
by Zbird on Friday, April 27, 2012 (22:44:42)

a humbling read my friend. very well told.

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Re: A Mark of Respect (Score: 1 )
by liarbird on Monday, April 30, 2012 (04:49:34)

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Re: A Mark of Respect (Score: 1 )
by WordLover on Saturday, April 28, 2012 (08:23:44)

congratulations on this very very well deserved number one spot! This touched my heart in so many ways - you have such a mastery of words - the way you are able to describe someone with such skill one can clearly see them, feel their pain, hear their laughter and share their tears. This is a true "human" piece that is soooo beautifully!
Sandy

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Re: A Mark of Respect (Score: 1 )
by liarbird on Monday, April 30, 2012 (04:52:59)

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Re: A Mark of Respect (Score: 1 )
by Leggolas on Saturday, April 28, 2012 (11:17:48)

A wonderful moral immersed in your usual engaging style my friend. Fond Regards. Mark.

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Re: A Mark of Respect (Score: 1 )
by liarbird on Monday, April 30, 2012 (04:55:56)

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Re: A Mark of Respect (Score: 1 )
by Pujakins on Monday, April 30, 2012 (10:10:23)

This is such a fine poem! Thank you for posting this and for demonstrating your truth that we all may share it. Warm Wishes and kudos for a fine poem. Tasha

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Re: A Mark of Respect (Score: 1 )
by liarbird on Monday, April 30, 2012 (23:37:06)

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