Selection of poems from our readers
KINGSTON
Kingston capital Kingston capital Jamaica
From Torrington Bridge to the harbour
Run cross de sea to Port Royal, Kingston 1
Weh 1692 earthquake draw dung inna san
Inna de sea, buildings fall like chop-dung trees
Survivors hurry to de main Lan weh Kingston lie dung pon
Subjugated Africans work hard as slaves
Throughout the 17 hundreds fi mock slavers enclave
Kingston was de main slave destination port, never resort
The town was constructed so pretty
Only white enslavers were legal to walk free in de city
In de 18 hundreds wen sugar banana get dem rich
World pressures stop all de slavery ships
Only illegal ships continue to enter de port
But few white were there to spy and report
In 1834 slavery was abolished
Kingston port got another hit
1838 wi get full freedom, stuck same way, weh mi fi tun?
Kingston now deh pon every body lips
People walk long fi get a little prip
Some reach inna de town noh waa gu back home
Kingston city now a everybody zone
1865 some people still naa get pay
Paul Bogle rebel out a Morant Bay
1907 Kingston was flat, earthquake again, another problem
Clean up time Africans at work
An de work neva stop build it back pon spot
Island-wide strike 1930, Kingston port again in history
Scholastic Mullatos formed Trade Unions
Neocolonialists now in de region
JLPNP gamble Afro-Jamaicans, every five years in dem neo plan
Election 1980 Kingston red, ova 800 Africans lay not in dem bed
Only 2000 come, anada millennium
Kingston mideh chant mi Kete Drum
2015 Kingston still King fe de Queen
Rastafari deh yah, and Kingston reveal.
- Ras JaJa
How do you feel
So cold, callous, cruel and horrible.
You snuffed out the life of a young vibrant and promising human being
a precious gift to her parents and all who were graced with her infectious smile that travelled from her heart and emitted from her face. How do you feel!??
You shattered her dreams, hope and her future with a bullet that can never be redeemed.
She was frightened afraid and panicked,
it did nothing to you it seems, you didn't reconsider when the only power she had was to run with all her might,
yet that didn't deter you from killing her. You cold-blooded murderer. How do you feel??
You didn't stop to think of the joy she brought to her family,
the hope she gave them by starting on the path of her dreams, oh it didn't matter.
You proceeded on your path without regret, and grabbed her precious life from her with your bullet.
Have you ever thought that God sees you. How do you feel??
Cold-blooded murderer how do you feel when you went home and on your television,
her smile lit the screen, that is the life you took, a future leader a brilliant human being. How do you feel??
- Crishna Clarke
Deep Love
silence is too profound for that love
deep
"new broom sweep clean, but old broom know the corner"
my brothers can't fight for me
they are standing in the gap for me
"old fire stick catch quick"
nothing said
the fire burns
the love covers
the unmet needs of the many years
there is love in those eyes
standing by your side
telepathic recall
"it's time for me to do it on my own"
- Helen-Ann Elizabeth Wilkinson
A World In Crisis
Through questioning eyes I see a world in deep crisis
Bewildered by the trail of destruction caused by ISIS
Hundreds of lives snatched violently in Paris
As bullets showered like rain on an abnormal basis
These eyes surf a world in chaos and confusion
Where lives are in disarray and people become disillusioned
Worldwide acts of aggression
Give birth to belligerent nations
Tempers flare and enemies stare
The reign of terror rains everywhere
Planes are often brought down low
In such mysterious manner
Denied of their right to fly freely
Not even given a chance to hover
Warring factions in the Middle East
Can't seem to find any lasting peace
Yet, the inescapable truth about the whole matter
Is to direct a dying world to Christ the Saviour
Lasting peace can only be found in the Blood of the Lamb
The world must take note of the only solution
Christ is the panacea for all the world's aches and pains
Truly, I say, our God will forever reign.
- Everald Bogle
My Ride
Driving me slowly up that street where many unknowingly, have
trod.
It's like I'm being relentlessly beaten with an iron rod.
The brakes have been cut, I can't control you, it's like we're at
war.
For what is about to happen, I'll end up with a great scar.
You're loved my many damsels for your external design.
For surely your material is amazingly fine.
Many if they could would slide their hands under your hood.
But I love you for your interior, to me you are superior.
I remember turning on your ignition
for you knew I loved complete submission
and often times placed you in position
to receive my love transmission.
But now I know I must let you go
For I was never told there would be so many potholes in the road
Loving you is a struggle for you're nothing but trouble
Sometimes I wanna take one last ride but I must remember my
pride.
I must walk away with not even a word to say.
- Shana Lynch