POEM OF THE WEEK

I am not paid for this

No

I am not paid for this

Yes, you heard right

Yes

Yes, this is what Professor George Eaton calls

'The Haitianisation of the Jamaican economy'

No

I am not paid for this

What Professor Miller calls

'Intelligent criminality'

No, I am not paid for this, no way

Not this slavery

Not this whip

Not this master, not this mistress, not this miss

Unno is supposed to respect elder

In your mother age group

You deh laugh after me

Mock, jeer, laugh

Write up, write down

Workers nuh have no rights, only wrongs

Research

You wait till yu reach de riva bottom

After rain no fall fi a lang time ...

No!

I am not paid for

Dis ...

Shoes

Shoes, shoes, shoes

Shoes are good for the feet

As they help us to get along!

But what of the soul?

Be it the soul of the sock,

Or more often, the soul of the shoe.

Man is body, soul and spirit,

All made into one

Is it possible to separate the

Soul from the spirit

Though they be one

The soul of a man

Should he lose it

Would be a calamity most unfortunate

So it is with the sole of the shoe,

This loss would be unfortunate

- Orrin

You're still my love

The words of the poem are:

We must remain the same as when our hearts were inflamed with love.

Or else, the solemn vows that we took will break.

You're still my love.

We are first loves.

And you're the only true love I know.

Remember, these lips were the ones that you passionately kissed.

And this imaginative man is the one who dearly loves you.

You're still my love.

We are first loves.

And you're the only true love I know.

The last verse reads:

I stood right next to you and encouraged your dreams.

Your eyes were fixed on me as I took your hand and led you away.

You're still my love.

We are first loves.

And you're the only true love I know.

- Marlon Pitter

Tongues

We speak neither Chinese nor Korean,

We speak a language that says who I am

We speak words not of a different native language

But of a special artistic understanding.

Our vocabulary is not limited -

It reaches hearts, souls and minds.

Our words are not bound to ones ear

But reach beyond the wildest of imaginations.

We speak a language that not all can understand

And not all will appreciate

But we speak a language that is

Pure

True

Creative

Innovative

And artistic

We speak the language of poetry.

- Racquel Robertson

Say goodbye to depression!

You are down on your face today.

You don't even remember how to pray.

You don't even know what to say.

Life has dealt you some hard blows.

You get up every day to sorrows and woes.

Your own relatives and friends have become your foes.

It's like you are carrying a heavy load up a steep hill.

But your feet are stuck in mud and your life is at a standstill.

You have lost your faith and lost your will.

The bills are coming at you.

The rent is overdue.

Punches from every angle. Your face is black and blue.

You've been punched to the ground.

There's some strength left in you. It must be found.

Say: I will not stay down!!!

Say: I will not stay bound!!!

Rebuke the devil!!

Try again, Sharon! Pick up yourself, Neville!!!

And take it to a higher level.

Don't be overshadowed by doubt.

Get ready to jump and shout.

You must know in your heart that you are coming out.

You may not even know what to say or do.

God knows what u r going through!

There's still hope for you!

Make a new impression.

Take a new expression.

Say goodbye to depression!!!

- Anthony E. Morgan

Wi a God's own

Dats why 'Im spoil wi,

Wi a God's own

Suh Sandy let wi by

She got har bull's eye shot

And flop, almost drop

Shi did determine fi pass through, yes,

But wi a God-bless

Shi an har wind and rain

Couldn't test

America weather reporter seh,

"Sandy's heading for Jamaica,

No doubt about it,

She's a sure hit"

Wah kinda hit dem a talk bout?

An wen dem hear from di shout,

Sandy come disgrace harself, no doubt.

Afta shi a nuh Nanny,

Shi a nuh warrior

Shi a nuh Miss Lou

Wah mek Patois cross borda.

A God wi seh,

Every church pon a corna,

No idols, elements, no big-belly budda

Wi nation only call upon God, wi Fada.

So mek dem come,

Quake, storm, hurricane

Wi nah run

Wi a Him wash belly

Fi wi prayer God nah shun

'Im bless wi wid sand, sea,

Fun caan dun.

- Nickona Chung Heu

My friend and my guide

Thy Spirit, Lord, is my Best Friend,

My only Friend, and my great care

He feeds me with the living bread,

And gives me water sweet to drink.

He loves me as His very own,

And cares for me with great, great care

He makes me laugh when I do cry

And gives me joy when sorrows great.

He tells me all I need to know

And counsels me in every war

He blesses me with gifts from Thee

That humble me as I do pray.

O Lord, Thy Spirit is my friend

The most loyal friend to me now

I thank you now for sending Him

To be my friend and guide this hour.

- John Hyman