A POEM FOR MUMIA

For those of you who don't know, Susan Rosenberg was recently transferred from FCI Marianna to FCI Danbury. She's done 11 years of a 58 year sentence, serving most of that time in small group isolation. The move to Danbury marks the first placement in a regular unit that is also close to her family. Her new address is: Susan Rosenberg, 03684-016, FCI Danbury, Pembroke Station, Danury, CT 06811. Shortly after her transfer, Susan wrote a poem for Mumia:

SHADOW LIFE

Entombment like black smoke
will do damage deep in.

All the way in it twists
and coils into jagged
shards of eliminated time
creating a
shadow life that never sees light.
No sun rays here
to shake spirits free.

What will it be
the upcoming state sponsored
execution?
Is it injectable?
Is it electrical?
Justice denied, yet again?

If the state murders
Mumia
all of us
will be diminished
The deepest damage
will spread
and the particles that racism
breed
will extend the shadow life.

Their message so clear
Do not be Black
Do not be radical
Do not be a political prisoner

There is still time to
SHAKE IT LOOSE
to pry open this iron fist
to shake spirits free
into the light
To free Mumia Abu Jamal

-- Susan Rosenberg, U.S.Political Prisoner, August 95, Danbury FCI