Saaleha Idrees Bamjee
Papa passed away so fast
I only found my tears at the funeral.
That old man was too cool.
You should've seen the pictures
like some David Carradine in the dust
Wild Bill Hickock with a soccer ball
that Bhamjee could shoot.
And on big nights and holy days
when every good Muslim
asks everyone for forgiveness
Papa would say “agh it’s alright”.
He live full and he lived quick
a heart beat to the pace of a winning horse
a thousand devils’ hooves on his tongue
like when he met that niqabi aunty
told the whole room they went way back
used to jive-jive at Chez Gay
Of course no one could see her blush.
Ah Papa, I see you now
waiting for the reckoning
and it’s going to be fine
because Allah’s going to say
“agh Bhamjee, it’s alright.”
Featured on 25 March 2021