Brooklyn Bedouin

Welcome to Dodge Part 1

Time: 8:45pm,- 5 on 5, full court, indoors, first to 8 points or 10 minutes per game. In case of a tie a “golden shot” aka first shot wins.

 

So far one team with: one girthy 6’6 guy with a post up game, a soft jump shot and a knee brace, two small guys with speed, good handle, fast hands, and good decision making, a slasher and a square guy with handle, a long range shot and the ability to look like he’s moving in slow motion in the middle of the paint - call them the Winners and they have dominated the court. This crew, using both skill, finesse, power, and loud mouths silenced all the other and younger, 7 foot tall and dunking with ease who now languis on the sidelines with the rest of the acolytes thirstily practiced their shots at the other end of the court when the ball had advance in the other direction - waiting for their turn.

 

The list is 4 games deep which means that the acolytes, the young men and women strung along the out of bounds, glaring on the court, laughing at the missed shots, sizing up the good players - squinting like hunters through a scope - sizing up the prey. The floor squeaks.

 

The square guy, dribbling with his right hand, enters the paint in slow motion. He dribbles around his back to his left, makes a slow-fast move to the basket, then bounces the ball from his left side around the back again but through his legs and back to his right hand. The defender is confused. He had over-committed left and now the ball was back in the square guy’s right hand who by now is too deep into the paint to stop. He uses his effortless touch to finish it off. The winners have just had another easy victory. At no point were they down and the game ended with 3 minutes left on the clock having reached the 8 point limit.

 

It takes an unnecessarily long time to get the next game organized. People are honing their shots, sharpening their focus, chatting away are the acolytes. A group of young girl ballers are sitting with their buddies on one side of the court. This is the cool crew, they look like serious basketball players, laugh like them and talk like the whole world revolves around their jokes. At the other end is another crew of acolytes, they are regulars, know the scene, and have a reserved air that belies their high school coolness. They’re good kids who can ball with the bad kids. In the middle are the freelancers, free agents, radicals, older guys and white guys. The sorts of folks that no one really wants on their team - but end up on the teams anyway.

 

Finally order is established and a scraggly team steps on. They are a motley crew.Call them the Ringers: One white guy with floppy hair and not enough height, or flare, to call him pistol pete. Then another small guy, a roundish, lined beard, puffy neck with skinny legs who manages to be fast and struts with confidence. They had some height too: one guy who looked the part - answering to the name Tony, another lanky guy with a whiners scowl, a blue tank top, and balding head - one of the old guys - the other was a stocky ex-football player, with his white bandana, blue shorts that he’s had since playing football in college and the only guy or girl out on the court in running shoes - grey New Balance.

 

“Man, i hope you got some basketball shoes to change into” one of the acolytes squeals.

 

He stays quiet, knowing his game, and minding his business.

 

Judging from the way the Winners had been playing they clearly had the advantage in size, they played like a team - even running plays - and they were cocky - arguing every call, and waggin their toungues before it even started. Winners start out with the ball because they’re, well, winners. Immediately they attempt to go own into the post with the big guy with the knee brace. He’s got a wide jaw, and a killer turn around jumper. New Balance gives him the fore-armed shiver, keeping him at a safe distance. When he does go up for the shot, he does so with a hand in his face - close enough so that the sweat splashes on his palm - good defense for a old guy clearly over-matched. The ringers get the rebound and the stage has been set - this would actually be a game...

 

TO BE CONTINUED

 

You are; believe

The writing is on the wall. 

We spent time in palms, burning them to close the wounds

And coming midway, across the continent and back

You are; believe

   all that inside windows

where temperatures do not drop

below zero where the palpable calm emits

  in a prophetic state, endeavoring to be

a whole new layer of understanding

   we have been set on this course

by only God Almighty, 

 the fount, the water-falling crash

transmuting possibility, sipping knowledge through a straw

   at the hydrant

into reading walls

   the concrete

 like hearts and feeling the truth; hard but cracked open

digging deep 

   now the moment is the most precious planet

the most noble of roots

the bright of all celestial bodies moving

and we are in unison; breathing, your scent is lingering…

gone for just an instant. the weather turns 

  winter blesses us with a goodbye kiss

and spring blankets like a sheet of ice in sun; 

melting.

bb-

Mabrook, Congrats and many blessings to the brothers: Musa Syeed and Jay Dhabi, who recently announced their upcoming weddings. Have they both already happened? Not certain but i do know that this is perhaps the last photo of both of them as "single" men:

 
 

First day of Spring

For those of you that do not now, re is a flower that is the official flower of Brooklyn because it is the first one that blooms in the Spring. Forsythia blooms in Brooklyn! Act like ya know. 

Brother President Obama's signature

ibrahim al-matin - the Poet.

I read some poetry the other day. Here was one of them, it was the first time in a while, and i wanted to share what that was and what it looked like. This was from the deep Southside of Chicago.

69. Ode to Ocean Blue…

 

Listen to Marvin Gaye a lot,

Purse the folds of your skin between the eyes

And channel wide open mouthed, onto a bed of keys

Have the ebony and ivory drip with the darkest tears

Ask for forgiveness, in twenty thousand languages

And swim across that ocean of sorrow

Flipping back arms like flippers and fins

 

Whilst thy scales shimmer – blue.

Healthy Spring Advice from Mayssa Sultan, L.Ac.

Spring Newsletter 2008

by Mayssa Sultan, L.Ac.

Spring has arrived.  The buds are beginning to bloom, the sprouts are sprouting, and the trees are growing new leaves.  It is an exciting time of the year.  The Spring Equinox is celebrated as the New Year in many traditions. A time of new beginnings, letting go of the old and welcoming in the new.  As the cold and internal energy of winter comes to a close the new warmer energy of spring leads us outdoors to enjoy the new life, the new season all around us.

In Chinese medicine, Springtime is associated with the Liver and therefore cleansing and purification.  This is a time when you want to be gentle with your body.  Your liver energy is high now and can get overtaxed as we in Western society do not take the cold and hibernating time of winter to build strength for the new growth season. You may feel extra tired now. Do not push yourself too hard. Take time out to take a rest, a nap, break from your busy routine to recharge. The spring is a time when the weather shifts suddenly, a Chinese proverb says, the weather changes as quickly as an infant’s face. Dress in layers, you will be sensitive to wind and illness, so protect yourself.  Doing what we can to strengthen our bodies detoxification processes during this time is essential for the coming months (see below for suggestions).

The element associated with the liver is wood, which when healthy makes us emotionally fluid during this time. If you want to create new plans for the coming year, now is a great time as you will be flexible and creative in its implementation. If your Liver tends to operate at an excess, this means you anger easily, are depressed and frustrated, or for women, have strong PMS symptoms, you may feel these symptoms aggravated.  Counteract this by being easy on your body.  Eat lightly steamed foods that are easily digestible. Eat smaller amounts. Incorporating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet will help to nourish your Spleen, the main digestive organ in Chinese medicine thereby taking some of the stress off your Liver. This is not a good time to over-exert yourself, remember your body is just beginning to reawaken with the season.

The green color of this season comes as no surprise. Absorb this color by getting outside and nourish your eyes, the sensory organ of the Liver, with it.  The associated body parts that need special attention during this season are your tendons and ligaments. With this in mind stretching and walking outdoors are good activities now.

If you have a tendency to have a strong digestive system, you can tolerate some raw foods at this time. If your digestion tends to be weaker or your energy sluggish, lightly steamed vegetables at a high temperature for a short time or sautéed in olive oil is the best option for you. As the heat of summer arrives you can incorporate more raw foods into your diet, as the environmental heat will help you to digest them.

Some ideas for a healthy new season:

• This is a great time   to do a cleanse, 3 to 5 days. You don’t need to fast. Just eat lightly,   fresh vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Remember the cooking instructions   from above, this definitely applies during cleansing.

• You can do some juicing,   my favorite is beet, kale, celery with some apple for flavor, and a   squeeze of lemon helps in the detoxification properties (you can also   add cucumber or carrot into the mix). Eliminate refined sweets (white   sugar products and baked goods) and white flour products, stay away   from difficult to digest meats during cleansing. Take detoxifying herbs   as tea or tincture, these herbs include dandelion root, burdock root,   milk thistle, nettles, and be sure to drink plenty of water.  (contact   me if you want a more specific cleanse for your body type).

• Foods that help to   detoxify the liver - mung beans, celery, seaweeds, lettuce, cucumber,   watercress, tofu, millet, plum, chlorophyll rich foods (wheat &   barley grass, spirulina, blue-green algae, chlorella), mushrooms, radish,   & daikon radish.

• Sweet flavors can   be good for the liver, just stay away from the refined sugars, good   options are stevia, unrefined cane juice, whole sugar cane, licorice   root, barley malt, date sugar, molasses, & rice syrup.

• Are your allergies   driving you crazy? Try doing a daily flush with a neti pot and saline   (warm water and a little salt).  If you don’t have a neti pot,   you can just use the cupped palm of your hand.  Sniff the water   into one nostril, tilting your head down and to the side (over the sink)   so the fluid can flow out of the opposite nostril. Sounds difficult,   it isn’t and it is so worth it!

• If your allergies   are bothering you can also try cutting back on wheat, dairy and excess   sugar intake.  This, while difficult, can help immensely.

• Clearing your home   of clutter – whether a room, a closet or a corner, create space to   allow the energy to flow freely through your space.

• Water with Lemon throughout   the day supports the cleansing action of the liver which is important   now.

• This is a great time   to do a mental cleanse, clearing your mind in meditation for 15-20 minutes   a day is a great way to accomplish this goal.

• Spend some time with   the earth, do this by digging in the garden or going on a picnic.

• Doing skin scrubs   are incredibly beneficial now as this stimulates your lymphatic system   (our body’s filtration system), do a scrub in the shower daily, and   end your shower with a cold stream of water, this stimulates the lymphatic   system.

• Hot springs, hot tubs   and saunas also get the lymphatic system moving.

• Other foods particularly   beneficial for liver health include:

Beets, steamed or freshly juiced (combined with other veggies) are great for the liver, blood and colon, as are artichokes, celery, arugula, watercress, cilantro, and chicory.

Cruciferous vegetables - Cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, turnips and radishes are the most common. These are best eaten lightly steamed, gently cooked.

      All sprouts during this time are good to eat.

Fruits: all berries, but especially blueberries, cherries, and pears

Avoid: ripe bananas and dried fruits, as they contain lots of sugar (you can soak dried fruits and use the water to cook with, I have used it to make quinoa, gives it a great flavor)

• Herbs useful in cooking   during this time are – basil, fennel, marjoram, rosemary, caraway,   dill, bay leaf.

I hope you find these suggestions useful.  Enjoy the season. 

Sonnet #1

Thralled wight subscrib’d to recure thy sutured soul
Be still withal burning humid summer twire
Fashioned of one year and one half procur’d
Wrackful we linger; Oh but to be! Form free!
Whisper ear just after Morning Prayer.
I quest makeless to the ocean and back
Caked in blood, sweat, tears, bleary eyed and sand
Frank fitted; I am lost without this love!
Floundering rudderless spinning, a gingko
Concrete grinding morals and values; chock’d
Approve against of my favour to thee
For Creator and our community
Erst ungrounded my knee and heart; ache earth breath
I say in chase: For love and the One; we must!

Thrilled – enslaved
Wight – person
Recure – heal
Withal – from this
Twire – shine
Wrackful – destructive
Makeless – without a mate
Frank – bountiful
Fitted – distorted by fits
Approve – try
Against – in expectation

THe Light of the Age

check out this track on the The Blessed Mawlid and imagine groups of young and fly and muslim traveling caravan style throught the Bay Area going from community to community immersing themselves in the poetry, song, food and fellowship that accompanies the marking of the Prophet's (saws) Birthday...

if only our actions were as pure as a fraction of The Warner's, the Prince of Princes!

May Allah forgive All of us... and may He allow us to wish evil and damnned eternity on NOONE, not even our Worst enemy-

amen.

Eulogy for A Year and 10 Days

How quickly can you open your eyes

If you knew what ovals and petals awaited…
Would you scream for too long
In anticipation,
Or would you breathe first,
inhale those rubies
Knowing they drip off of petals
And in the second before the drop would hit, as it fuses
Into the heart –

Would you open your mind then, to the sunset?

bb

Invasion of the Feline!

she's staying at my house for a week long date/trial period to see how our chemistry is.

so far its working out. she wakes me up for fajr (the morning prayer) so that is a plus.

and she "gets" it when i say LA meaning NO in arabic to her trying to get in my room or out the door when i leave.

cats are cooler than dogs.