About my friend Osama

[Rolando]

Interview with Osama Jahjah (1973-2007), 22.6.2007

Where are you born?

In Alexandria, I have one brother and one sister. My father died when I was 11. He was a trademan and running a discotheque. He was the sweetest guy I ever saw in my life. My mother is housewife, she worked a little while in the shop of my father after he died.

How did you grow up?

I was attending a private school – when my father died, I became sick for about 6 months. My psychology started to change, because the whole world changed. The school was getting too difficult for my mind. I went to an Arabic school, then everything was easier. I finished highschool and wanted to become a sailor – I studied diesel engineering, but didn’t finish the last 2 years because of a lack of money. Then I start to come to Dahab in 1992 and did several jobs here. I was getting much more individual. In 2000 I went to England. There I started to discover my talent of writing, but I was loosing my direction and had to came back where I started - to find the right way to go.

Are you on the right way?

I started.

How did your drug experience start?

It was in England – I bought grass for a friend, and start to use it by myself. Then I took all kind of drugs you can imagine. When I want something, I take it and I keep taking it. That’s my personality.

Where do you find the inspiration for your poems?

The first time was when I was stoned and I found the words just coming out of my mouth. I was astonished about the meaning in the end. The words are not mine, I am just a tool.
And the most inspiring thing was the pain. I had to develop from the pain. I wanted it to be a flower, and I found being optimistic is the only thing that would keep me alive.

What are the most important things for you in life?

Being happy and satisfied.

How do you achieve this?

By seeking energy – by using the right tool to get rid of the bad energy.

How you do this?

By believing I am a poet – so I shouldn’t be less then that. Poet means you are a feeler. You feel every minute of your life and you take a deep look at it. It’s making the live interesting. Its too boring if it’s the same every time.
Sometimes I used to walk out of the house and just started walking, without looking back. So I’ve been out for a week - and then returned to my home.

What are you feeling right now?

I feel like I am running out of words.

May be there is something deeper then words.

And that’s what I cannot put into words. It’s like you have a lot of tools, but you don’t know how to use it.




Osama Poems

When I wrote these poems, I was in darkness completely – a real darkness, like climbing from a deep hole in the earth to the light. And the poem was the rope of lightning, to get me out of the hole. It was easily killing all the negative sensations. It made me see how the live is worth it, it really saved me.

The world is mine

The world is mine
Look to the sign
Do you know me?
I know my place
I walked through my case
Welcome to the space

And then ..

I am stronger then the earth
And the universe
I am stronger then hell
And heaven
I am stronger then words
and letters

After midnight
This traffic light
That river running
This big tree
The night bird singing
Sing for me

You know why?

Because the world
Is mine.

I took my desire
I made it a flower
I put it in a glass with water
Its going to die
I will let it dry
I plant the seed again
Its going to be a tree
For you and me

People care about things
And people care about other things
And between things and things
You find different people
The world is mine.

Let’s do it

Lets sing for each other
All the love songs together
Lets put wishes and hopes in the box
Lets take a boat to the desert
Lets have a chat on the edge
Lets talk from different image
Lets leave tomorrow now
And lets leave now forever
Let’s do it.

What’s your name

Ma name is America
Excuse me: what you’re saying?
My name is America. America! America!
Are you America black and white with a big fight?
Are you America Hiroshima Nagasaki Vietnam Irak?
No!
I am America hotdog burger - Have you got a Dollar - do you have a Buck?
No
I don’t give a toss
I don’t pay tax
I am not supporting army going to my country
Killing my family
Come here and kill me
Make my family very proud of me
I am against you, Mr. Doubelyou
My name is O – you are the antichrist
What’s your name?

[Rolando]

When I first met you, you was so full of positive vibes and energy. You was waking up at 6 o clock with the first sunlight, helping the children in our street with their bicycles and toys, teaching policemen on the street english language and cooking every day for min. 2 hours phantastic meals, like the famous syrian dish which is called "Upside down".
I remember the children always crying "Osama, Osama!", until you was coming out and playing with them. I remember you repaired a lot of bicycles for the children from your own money. And if you see that they didint go to school, you used to keep them - until they went again.
I remember the chats with you about god and life. I remember the poems you told us, when the evening was warm and the stars were out.
You used to go to the mosque 5 times a day this time. You was so lucky that you managed to stop with alcohol and other drugs that destroyed your life before. And you was so in love with Babs, your german girlfriend - which you had only seen for one day in your life.

Do you remember our trip to St Catherine? I remember how curious and exited you was about the trip. Your greatest dream was to climb the mount Moses - and now this dream seemed to come true.
On the last checkpoint before St Catherine, you was arrested by the police. You had ignored a case by court, an unpayed check from a car accident before. But - typical for you - you were not angry or sad. Instead you accepted your fate and made nearly all the policemen in the station your friends. Even last time, when I've been to St. Catherine, they were asking about you. "Where is Osama?"

Since you came out of prison after 1,5 months, you had changed again. You still was my good friend Osama, but now you started to drink again, leave the prayer, stop the fantastic cooking and you didnt tell us your poems in warm summer nights.
You've chosen your way - I am sorry that you left us so early.

Ciao, Osama!

[Rolando]

Foto:

[sonia]

For Osama and what he taught me.
Through space, lands and sky I ride pain, aware that it's is the most ancient, universal and powerful horse. Against the bloody sunset I ride pain. I grieve for the liveliness lost, for the unheard words, the unheard suffering. I ride the horse of pain through the stars and the common sky of all humans, aware that it's the greatest strength of unity, aware that in this most painful riding there is everybody I know. Aware that this most ancient steed of God is also our greatest common area, our sadly strongest bridge, and our invincible way to stay together beyond space and time.
While I ride through the crying of the sunset I look for friend hands, and I find them. So I know: they are also here. Tight in pain like an only huge family, through the goodbye of the one who has gone, leaving us here in the ancient forest of questions and regrets. The unbearable power of what is irreversible. But you said it and we believe: you are stronger than the earth and the universe, you are stronger than hell and heaven, you are stronger than words and letters... But dear friend of ours, I'm weaker, and my only weapons are words, my only way to light your path while you leave are words, living words overflowing with light and feelings. Therefore through words here I cry, I pray, I sing, to give you back the light  that your poetry  left me, and make it  100 times  sweeter and stronger  for  your journey  to the place reserved to  poets  and friends like you.
In my city the rain was falling just for 2 minutes in the exact moment they gave me the news of your last goodbye. Then the sun came back to tell us you were welcomed in a place full of light. But also to tell us that the time had come for us to start our hard riding on the universal horse of pain. Sure we still can't believe that we will have no other chance to talk to you and see your lively smile. But maybe this millenary horse is not only able to lead us through pain, maybe he can also teach us to fight and to get better people. To find a narrow passage through our Art, and words, and songs, and prayers, to get to you again and never stop this interstellar conversation. Goodbye Osama. But "arrivederci", that means see you again. In poetry. In the taste of food, in the dance of the sea, in the smell of flowers. And in heaven.
Sonia

[oliver]

Last picture of Osama / Joe 2 Nights before he went from us.

Click the pictures to enlarge.

ps: Sorry, seems like that you must be logged into the Forum in order to view the pictures. When you register you will be logged in instantly...

[oliver]

His body was washed and today buried in Alexandria by his family.
We also want to give him a farewell tomorrow, Saturday, 14th of July, 8 p.m. in Dahab.
We will meet at the Bridge, close to the Place where he started his final journey.
Please bring a piece of wood, we would like to make a little fire on the beach.
If possible bring some flowers (but please take them only from bushes of abundance)

Barbara, her daughter Samantha and Oliver

[sonia]

I'm sorry, I tried to find a last-second flight to be there with you all tomorrow evening by the usual bridge, but I just had 3 days free (or almost) and it is impossible to find the right flight-combination... I will be there with you with my heart, I miss you all guys and I send you all my energy and comfort.
Hugs from Italy to my second-family-community of Dahab,
Sonia

[sonia]

What a beautiful song... I suggest u all to download it, in Italy it's up all day. Nice words... & I thought of Osama.
Sonia
How To Save A Life - The Fray



Step one you say we need to talk
He walks you say sit down it's just a talk
He smiles politely back at you
You stare politely right on through
Some sort of window to your right
As he goes left and you stay right
Between the lines of fear and blame
You begin to wonder why you came

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

Let him know that you know best
Cause after all you do know best
Try to slip past his defense
Without granting innocence
Lay down a list of what is wrong
The things you've told him all along
And pray to God he hears you
And pray to God he hears you

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

As he begins to raise his voice
You lower yours and grant him one last choice
Drive until you lose the road
Or break with the ones you've followed
He will do one of two things
He will admit to everything
Or he'll say he's just not the same
And you'll begin to wonder why you came

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
How to save a life
How to save a life

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
How to save a life

[sonia]

I dreamt of Osama the other night: he was back to Dahab after death, looking alive, I was standing in front of him and kept on telling him: "Why have you gone?", he was looking really happy and alive and told me: "I've not gone!". I just kept on repeating: "Why have you gone?", but he (looking good and happy) kept on answering: "I've not gone, I've not gone..."

[hateam]

Ohh, Iam sorry. I wasnt read well this post and when I have seen Chico on his hands I was so happy that I find this. So I have deleted from this post my comment.