My thoughts about Del Jones, a serious warrior who died on August 8...

Del Jones
Why now do I feel so alone?
You were a mentor and a a friend
You made me think that we just might win
You made the revolution sound so simple
So easy to just do the right thing
Out of your mouth you made the right words sing
Now an ancestor, I won't think of you with grief
But selfishly, I know that the race won't speak
Quite as eloquent or with as much flavor
Now your tapes I must savor
And show to my sons over and over again
Praying that they will pick up your ability to decipher
The lies that the spies and the thieves tell their wives
As they make pleasant tales of all their killings
Spinning stories so well that we forget who are the real villians
I don't profess to do justice to your memory
I just pray that we take up your slack
As we continue to look back
to you, and get lifted up higher
As moving forward we aspire
Remembering how you just made it so plain
You did Malcolm, Marcus and Dr. Clarke so proud
You didn't back down
Like a phoenix out of the ashes you didn't back down
Now how do we serve you Del?
Do we tell the enemy to just go to Hell?
Or do we just sit back a spell
And plan
how to overthrow this man?
Who for every ookie doke we seem to fall
But what would you say to us now, Del?
I remember coming to you so full of despair
So sick and tired of us not going anywhere
But you always reminded me of that silver lining
To which I couldn't see
Not to live in a fantasy
But to give life meaning and purpose
Now I see
A fighting spirit gives life a chance
to move forward as we learn from the past
So put on your Del detective cap and pass this legacy on
As you define your enemy
and give yourself permission to know
That everyone ain't your friend, don't cha know
Teach your children to read past the lies
And know the game faces of those to despise
Knowledge is power, ignorace bliss
And there is only one real way
to give your enemies your behind to kiss
Living as Del would, constantly in research mode
Tell your children the urgency, or better yet
Devote your life to our fight, one that Del constantly rode
Africans must unite, but Africans must write and think and read
It is with this reference to Del that we must start living
and with God Speed
I will miss your calm yet urgent voice
I will remember how easy you made it seem
I will take with me your insatiable quest for the truth
I will pass on the memory of your fighting spirit
A war coorespondent who knew, just what to say and do
I will forever speak of you with dignity and pride
Because life without knowing Del Jones is an incomplete ride.

Check out his website: www.whattheproblemis.com