A university professor
Brilliant
Committed
Humble
But a thorn
In the eyes of an aggressor
And a pain
In the neck of an oppressor

A popular teacher
A prolific speaker
A grand strategist
A community activist
An effective leader

But among leaders
He’s the giant
No one is more reliant
Has a strong will
That’s admirably defiant

A genuine intellectual
Of others he’s most respectful
His vision is forward looking
But when things go awful
He’s the most thoughtful

Before the truth,
He will kneel
With his friends
He will deal
And against the foes
Has nerves of steel
When people are on the bus,
He’s at the wheel

*This poem is dedicated to Dr. Agha Saeed, a committed leader who dedicated his life to empower the American Muslim community and advance civic discourse among all segments of the American society.