Sunday, November 9, 2008

Being Naomi Shihab Nye III (In Honor of Aziz Shihab)

Here is my dear friend the poet, Naomi Shihab Nye, and her dad, Aziz Shihab speaking about his memior, Does the Land Remember Me?



Mr. Shihab passed away last year and we are blessed that he was here. During this time, I am thinking of my friend, Naomi.



Let there be peace on earth,
and let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on Earth,
the peace that was meant to be.

With God as our Father,
brothers all are we,
Let me walk with my brother,
in perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me,
let this be the moment now.
With every step I take,
let this be my solemn vow,

To take each moment and live each moment
in peace, eternally.
Let there be Peace on Earth,
and let it begin with me.

Words and Music by Jill Jackson and Sy Miller, Circa 1955

2 comments:

wmmbb said...

Judith, you may have seen the version by Mahalia Jackson on you tube.

I thought Aziz's comments about land, and the conflict in Palestine is about land dating from 1948 was particularly interesting.

Judith Ellis said...

Yes, wmmbb, I most certainly did hear the Mahalia Jackson version of “Let There Be Peace on Earth” on youtube. She was an amazing woman full of love, deep conviction, and compassion.

What did you find interesting about the land comment? It seems that this particular conflict is about land in that part of the world. In fact, most wars are about land and power--as in who has it.

I believe Mr. Shihab spoke from his memory of being removed from the land his family called home. The land probably has reference to what Mr. Shihab and his family called Palestine.