Poems
POEM OF THE WEEK
Heat-ration In A Di Nation
What a 'heat-ration' a gwaan in a di nation,
Mr Rain guh a divorce court an somewhat succeed wid separation,
An a swear seh everybody will realise how 'im really sweet
When 'im absence bring on di terrible heat.
An mi a tell yuh, di heat really intense, all
Children fraid fi play.
Sheep a bleat, bird a twitter, cow a moo an
di donkey dem a bray.
Mi nah fool yuh a di raw trute im a tell
Fah di drought a dry up river, stream an well.
People haffe a tun han mek fashion in a dis dry spell.
As fah di dam dem, Mona an Hermitage soon run dry,
An all wi a see is di cloud dem bex up in a di sky.
Fi mi Aunty Matty seh scientist fi find a way
fi mek di cloud dem laugh or smile
an water will come flowing like di river Nile.
But Aunty Matty a tek dis ting fi joke fah some
people can't find water fi drink, cook or bathe,
An di beautiful plants dem jus a wither an fade.
A serious ting a gwaan fah wi can get prosecuted
if wi wash wi car or water wi lawn.
Although wi haffe tek dis scenario serious mi chile
It a send lots a people in a big fashion an style,
Tek Sister Minnie who neva want people fi see
certain part a har skin,
She haffe shed off some a har clothes an get quite thin,
If yuh ever see har in a skimpy shorts an spaghetti strap
Nuh care how yuh feel sleepy, yuh would a
postpone di nap.
But on a serious note, wi haffe tek dis water ting
serious an mek a better plan,
Suh dat wi nuh haffe suffer suh when severe drought
bring 'heat-ration' pon di lan.
Mi really feel it fi di farmer
dem, some just a work fi survive,
can't even tink fi get wealthy
But in di process a help fi
Keep di nation strong an healthy.
But I have all confidence dat di learned judge gwine
reverse Mr Rain separation plan
An send him pouring water all over di lan,
So dat dis terrible an wicked 'heat-ration'
Will cease an desist all over di nation.
- Nalda Taylor-Wright
I am Jamaican
I am Jamaican
Strong, black and beautiful
With courage like the colours of the flag
Radiant like the golden rays of the sun
Luscious like the green of the grass
Ride above the black of hardship with pride
I am Jamaican.
I enjoy the fruits of the land
And the many ground provisions
Ripe bananas, avocado, cocoa and yam
Mango, soursop and otaheite apples
Far too much to mention
I love the roots and culture
The reggae music and steel band
The beautiful Negril beach
With its stretch of white sand
Not to mention
The many who have contributed in making us.
A 'Proud Nation'
We are more than conquerors
With more than a foot to stand on
Who can forget?
The Reggae Boyz recent fame and rise to ascension
Giving them much-needed attention
I speak the unique language
Call ... Patois
I am Jamaican
Our famous slogan is
'No problem, man'.
My country has a rich and beautiful history
Our national flower is the lignum vitae
We have a little Jamaican bird name tody
Known as the robin redbreast
Found among our many species
In the ground it makes its nest
Not in a tree
Birds ... we have many varieties
Including the national bird
The Doctor
Sometimes called
The hummingbird
We have beautiful sunshine all year round
Sometimes the rain can seldom be found
Rarely do we have an earthquake
But we have a few harmless snakes
Found mostly in the Cockpit Country
We also have fireflies
They come out at nights
Flashing their little tail lights.
We have rat bats and iguana lizards
Grow as much as six feet long
Again, way too much to mention.
I am Jamaican
We are famous for wood
Like the mahogany
cedar and satinwood
The blue mahoe our national tree
The coconut is used as a fruit by many
It is the world's most useful tree
And can be seen looming tall on any plantation
We salute our heroes
Who toiled, laboured
Fought for freedom
I am Jamaican
A very proud one.
Ackee and salt fish is our national dish
It was first brought from Africa on a slave ship
Though cooked and used as a vegetable
It is our national fruit
A delicious treat
When cooked and given to many a foreign groups
Who visit our island for vacation or retreat
There is so much more to tell
About this little island
Jamaica
Made up of land, wood and water.
I am Jamaican
My country is independent
Its people are educated, liberated and free
On August 6
Independence Day
We gonna frolic and party the day away
Flaunting our culture
While soaking up the sun
Jamaicans know how to fun
Jamaica
Beautiful caan dun
Land of my birth
I am Jamaican.
- Charmaine Wallace