We interrupt "Our Nuyorican Thing" series to bring you some personal commentaries from Sam. These comments are not to be taken as Nuyorican Poets Café policy nor to be considered as being said on behalf of it’s Board of Directors.

"Thou Shalt Not Silence The Poet"

It is with deep concern, grave misgivings and a rising state of apprehension that I have been reading about and have been made aware of a dark, sinister, destructive and evil conspiracy against the Word, Poetry and the Poet, being implemented by the Forces of Darkness against the Light and Creation.

And while I, Poet, normally would hold my peace and let others do as they will, I will not be silent in the face of Evil being perpetrated in the Name of Peace, the Greater Good or even Planetary Security ( I mean, national). To remain silent, in this case would be to consent, to agree. I DO NOT.

"Thou Shalt Not Silence The Poet"

If you don’t like what you hear, you do not have to listen. "Seek and you shall find", and "the truth shall set you free"

If you don’t like the Poet, you do not have to listen. Be a better Poet.

If you don’t like the Poem. Be on the side of Creation, make a better one, not on the side of destruction to erase it.

And while I, Poet, will not tell you what to do, say, or believe, just so that you will know:

Life creates,

While, Death eats its own.

You can stop a poem

You can not stop THE WORD!.

"Thou Shalt Not Silence The Poet"

And while I may differ (as all poets do from each other) in the voice, ethnicity, religious belief, socio-economic status, political affiliations, cultural background, family traditions, genetic composition, blood type, language, rhythm, cadence, personal preferences, philosophical inclinations or lifestyle and all such incidental circumstances that life chooses to express in the glorious variation of creation, I, Poet, stand on the side of the creative expression of the WORD.You are for Creation or against Creation.

"Thou Shalt Not Silence The Poet"

A Poet true to his profession, true to his art, true to the Word requires no accolade, honor or title. But if such is given by others, to then silence the Poet is an indictment of those that who gave the accolade, the honor or the title. Their loss, their shame.

I, Sam Diaz, Poet, salute Amiri Baraka, Poet.

"Thou Shalt Not Silence The Poet"

"Thou Shalt Not Silence The Poet"

"Thou Shalt Not Silence Amiri Baraka"

Sam.
In the Service of Poetry, Art and Community