Dear my half, Luby,

I am the vassal

of the moon, that, through

the cloud, shines, 

in a dark night. 

          Untold is her light,

          moon she's; said her vassal

          moon she's; said her vassal

          in a dark night she emits light.

In the light

of sunlight I see

her eyelashes; from eye to eye

her pinky lips; in kinky and kinky

& write her rite with a right might. 

          Untold is her light,

          moon she's; said her vassal

          moon she's; said her vassal

          in a dark night she emits light.

In the night

of daylight, please,

do not tell me the tale of unwell,

nor the tale of which I see a cell

but the tale of marvel & marvel.  

—Omar Muaz, Letter to Luby, 2021

Meaning: When I was a teenager I heard a statement about Africans that said, "If you want to hide something from the African, put it in a book" I thought the phrase "put it in a book" meant put it into writing, but it's more insulting than that. It means if you want to hide say, a coin from an African put it inside a book. The implication or rather the insult in the statement is that the African will never open the book, much more read. If you think this statement is false, tell me which is bigger: your library or your tv? This indicting statement angered me so much as a teen, I determined that I was not going to corroborate it. Today, I'm happy I made that choice. That investment continues to yield dividends. There are a thousand and one major reasons why you need to read. The most important I think is the reason given in the proverb. Money may help preserve your body but it is wisdom that will help you to preserve your soul. "It is never too late to be wise" (Daniel Defoe ). It is never too late to be free. It is never too late to live right. It is never too late to think right. It is never too late to learn. Read! As the old wise saying goes, "A man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read." For whatever you R.E.A.D: Research Evaluate Appraise & Decipher. Want books that entertain and enlighten? Read the African Writers Series books. Be reading!

🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝