TALES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

You aren’t more difficult to see than a black ant, scampering over a black rock, under the cover of the darkest of moonless nights. You aren’t more difficult to hear than Yoonus (as) was when he cried out in the belly of a whale, in the darkness and depth of the night sea. What is inside you isn’t harder to know than every single leaf that changes colour and falls off of every autumn tree. Allah (swt) sees you, hears you, and knows what is hidden so deep within yourself that it may still be a mystery even to you. He can distinguish your quiet whispering voice from the voices of billions of others. The bustling of marketplace shouts and arguments do not drown you out. The roaring of stormy oceans do not drown you out. Your voice doesn’t crackle or get cut off when you’re calling out to Him. This isn’t a long distance phone call. Your suffering isn’t unknown to Him. Your anger isn’t unknown to Him. That which you’ve suppressed and controlled within you isn’t unknown to Him. The truth of ...

In the police station from which the street got its name the inspector’s stomach was telling him it was Lunch time. He wiped his fat face with his handkerchief for the tenth time that afternoon, wishing he could crawl out of his damp skin, he looked up at the pathetic excuse for a ceiling fan that groaned as if it hated its job and sighed in frustration, he couldn’t wait to get out of his office. “I was on my way out so you would have to make this fast. Who are you and why did you ask to see me?” he asked the man sitting from across his desk. “I was told you are the man in charge here.” Trying to hide his impatience the inspector nodded. “Yes how may I help you?” “I want to make a confession.” For a moment the inspector wondered if he looked like a reverend father to the man. “You do realise this is a police station” “Yes sir.” “All right Mr…” “Patrick Attah.” “Patrick Attah I am Inspector Gabriel Annum. What is your confession?” he asked trying not to sound impatient. If this was one ...

Silence.. Her fragile body laid Her heart, a train pounding down its tracks. The fire of aching burns of dark monster suffocating in hurt She wished it will stop but walls are too strong Stronger than a teak tree powerful than hydrogen bomb. Black and blue fear Pain tearing down her spinal cord. that the wall could choke and drown in raging seas of her tears The storm could loose it's strength compared to darkness of her pains The earth could freeze from the shrieks of her inner soul If she could once again Fly and live to Illuminate paths of love She must soar above the buried white elephant in her living room. She waits for the twilight to give way for dawn for the day to shut down, a path to night. for the moon to sleep so that Sun can wake up For her to catch her breath "To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow" Until then, only Silence remains...

How will you know if you don't read In life race, why do readers take lead Outstanding like foreign breed, On foxes, they hungrily feed. "No knowledge is a loss" My Sensei's creed The Holy Book revelation began with "Read" But like mule you didn't take heed, And you boast "I don't read!" Read! And the obscuring fog will flee in light speed Read! And you will know flower from the weed Read! And your quandaries will bow and concede Read! And claws of fate can't make your bleed Read! For you have taken the path succeed

Does he really mock calling a hen, a bird? If not a bird, What then should he call a dove, a butterfly? True, A cock is but a bird, So, call him not a plane simply because Its wings too could soar To the sky I stress, To a hen Grains are the best of Gold, not songs! If the wind lies, Simply, ask a lioness If grass, not flesh Is of any use to her?

Millions of orbiting hearts in obedience they accept: The brightness of his vision, The simplicity of his teachings, The clarity of his objective The profundity of his philosophy His mission, unambiguous His nobility, unmatched His humility, bold as a full moon His love, a tranquil apple To all believing souls His trustworthiness, a rescue-canoe from turbulent waters His life, a blessing to mankind And a beam to all In victory, Always compassionate, Merciful, Forgiving to the vanquished lots In defeat, Always patient, Calm, Thankful to He Who pilots all affairs Yesterday, No gem was as sparkling as his Today, No jewel as radiant as his Tomorrow, No star will be as bright as his

Everywhere around me was abuzz with noise, but as it is I can barely hear them. It was like been immersed in a body of water. The voices came to me like they were from thousands of miles away. On so many occasions I have come across kids like me running around laughing and playing, with a care freeness that I have never experienced in what now seems like millenniums ago. I have come across kids who swear they hate their parents. ‘I wish I could go live with my Uncle. There I never get to do anything; I never get to be nagged like my mum always does.” ‘Who does he think he is? Is it because he is my father? I am sick and tired of this house!’ ‘I wish everybody would just disappear, I have the meanest parents.’ If only they know. If only they know what it is like not having parents. If only they knew. They would understand how ignorant and foolish they sound. I would give an arm and a leg just to have a father or a mother, even if they don’t do anything for me. Even if I will walk in ra...

THE DROWNING BIRD (FOR YUSUF MAITAMA SULE) This moment Butterflies of sadness Hover in million Reciting unedited scripture Of death Scripture that rehearse Tragic lines Tonight Sadness will light A fire In the palace of Our thoughts To turn into ashes The remnants of our Happiness Tonight Tension will whirl Teasing our broken hearts As we try to discard These fertile memories Afraid to remember a thing MOHAMMED BABANGIDA is a Talata Mafara born radio personality (Vision FM 92.1) and an addicted Favebooker. He passionately hates Mathematics and instantly falls in love with slim and fair looking ladies.

“You just stood there watching this Jake guy been pummeled?” Mo wanted to know. “Yes. You just warned me about interference.” Mo hesitated then nodded. “You are right; there was nothing you could have done. You know I’m beginning to agree with you, they might be interesting beings after all.” “I told you.” “So Abel--the married man, was the one who discussed his wife with his brother Gabriel.” “Yes.” Su said glad Mo’s interest had been piqued. “Gabriel then mentioned it to his good friend. Who then decided he wanted a taste of what Mr. Abel had.” “So it seemed.” “I think this Abel guy is the one that should have been beaten up, he caused everything.” “I agree with you, he should have respected his crazy wife’s privacy, even if he and his brother were joined at the hip and shared the same brain, he should have still kept his big bragging mouth shot.” “Watch your words please.” Mo said softly. “Fine” “Though crazy is the only word for that wife of his.” Mo later admitted. They both laugh...

It is true what they say, that so long as one still had breathe, life would always find a way to surprise you, my favorite quote? Nothing in life was permanent, are you happy today? Beware of the day it will change, are you in pain, sad or troubled? Beware of the day it will change, for it definitely will. Life was a chameleon, notorious for its camouflage for just when you think you have got it all figured out; it will show you a new side. Last year a neighbor had lost her child, the gathering had been at her house, I was there with my wife to sympathize. I felt bad for her misfortune but it didn’t stop me from watching my favorite program that night nor did it stop me from going to work the next day. Last week, our next door neighbor woke the entire neighborhood with an ear splitting scream, the cry tore through the night like lightening slicing through a dark storm, men and women had rushed out with various thoughts and assumption to pound on her gate. It was her daughter that...

    There was something about being a teacher that was interesting and fun. Standing alone in front of over twenty to thirty young minds, looking up to you as if you were the all knowing, trusting in the fact that whatever it is that comes out of your mouth as a teacher, is the truth and nothing but the truth. Expressions as different as the colors of rainbow, ranging from interest to boredom and in between, exist those who don’t even care at all and those who just stare at you blankly, minds thousands of miles away. The frustration, the boredom, and the routine of it all added to the charm of the work. And the biggest advantage of being a class room teacher is, I thought as I drive through the gate to park my Honder next to that of my wife’s Camry, the distraction the kids bring you once you stand before them. The funny naughty ones make you laugh and the brooding nasty ones make you wonder about their own problem and not yours.      Stepping into my liv...

                                                  The sun poured down its rays hot and Merciless, the afternoon was still and quiet. The two Beings stepped out from nothingness; standing still they looked about them wearily. “Su! Where are we?” “The human world of course, couldn’t you tell? We are surrounded by them.” The one named Su said as he swirled around in utter excitement. “This is so wonderful!” “This is not wonderful, we have no business here.” “Of course we do…and stop whispering you moron, they can neither hear nor see us.” To demonstrate, he stepped right in the face of a man and gave a loud scream. “See didn’t so much as bat an eye.” He then proceeded to insert a finger into his nose, abruptly the man started to sneeze. “Will you stop that? We have to go back.” “Mo, will you relax? You were the one saying you were bored a secon...