Poems
POEM OF THE WEEK
ConFLAGration
At a mayoral swearin een
Dem put up di flag an lef off di green
Jus' a black rectangle an' a gold 'x'
An' whole heap a people get vex
Dem really neva did expect
Such a level of blatant disrespect
Wedda laziness or political act
Di point is dat it was blinkin' slack
But den again, we nuh respect wi emblem dem
Look wah we do wi national anthem
We sing 'guide' instead a 'guard' all a di time
An bawl out 'BOOM' inna di laas few lines
An pon top a dat yu know mi haffi mention
Seh while it a play instead a stan at attention
Some a we siddung same way inna wi seat
An carry on conversation an nuh stop kin up wi teet'
Den we ask why Jamaica nuh deh pon di right track
But a di 'a nuh nuttn' mentality dat really a hol' we back
An' to tell oonu di truth, we nah reach anywhere
If we keep up a attitude dat is wutliss an 'don't care'
So fly di black an' gold an' green,
Fly it high an proud
An learn di words fi di anthem,
An sing it clear an loud
Fi Jamaica to be top a top,
Dat a fi mi prayer
So shout it mek di whole worl' know,
We likkle but we deh ya!
- Michael Abrahams
Yet you came
You were born yet a babe
In a manger
Before your birth you were already turned away
You knew this would happen
Yet you came
Each time you spoke
Questions arose, doubts were expressed and anger was near
You knew most would reject you
Yet you came
Following your father's orders
To die for those who hated you
Sinned against you
Spat on you, and betrayed you
You knew the pain you would feel, to save the world from themselves
You knew the blood you would shed
For crimes you never committed
You knew the nails that were to be daggered into your body
For swords drawn in wars your father never authorised
Yet you came
You had no part in our worldly ways
You never once sinned
You were the only clean one
The holy one, the free one, but because of our ways you became the scapegoat
Sentenced to bondage on a cross that you bear for the world to be free
But
You will rise again
You will live again
And smile again
Sit by your father's side again
You knew you would return, but you had to pay the price
That's why you came
Because you loved us
Unconditionally
I'm glad you came
- Racquel Robertson
Skin colour
Do you love the skin you are in?
Why is there much preoccupation with the colour of our skin?
Are you happy at what looks back at you?
Does your skin define you?
Black skin, white skin, what colour are you?
Sun-damaged skin, bleached skin too
What difference does the colour make?
Love the skin you are in
Wear it with a proud, broad, ear to ear grin
Skin is just skin
Don't allow it to define you!
- Wayne Campbell
Her haughty laughter
Echoes with vigour
Across your mind
As her beauty captures
The span of your attention
Leaving a good impression
That best describes
Her strong personality
That reaches out and commands
The respect of a world
That stands captivated
In her presence
A woman of substance
Strong
A mother
An only parent
Rough
She stands alone
Still in command
Of a world falling down
Leaving her kneeling
On a foundation
Built
Out of determination
And courage
Against all odds
She's climbed through
The rubbles of hardship
Struggling, fighting
Losing, winning
And stands above all adversaries
Victorious
- Keswick Simpson
My angered soul
I will be angry no more
For I, luckily, have another person
responsible for my heartbeats
And if her soul is no longer angry,
why should mine be?
- Yanique Taylor
Just pray
When you are in the wilderness all alone
With no credit on your phone
There's a friend who is always there
Whose network is accessible anywhere
You can call him anytime
You don't need Digicel or LIME
Just whisper a prayer to him
Then listen carefully for his ping
- Charlene Harris
All a heart can take
Sitting on the edge
And looking at the moon
I'm thinking and I know
That God is coming soon
As tears gather in my eyes
I wish that you could see
How much my heart is breaking
How much you mean to me
All I do is wish upon thestars
And know that God is real
'Cause if there was no God at all
I wouldn't feel the way I feel
When will you see that all you do is hurt me?
When will you see that I'm trying
my best to make you trust me?
It hurts my heart so many times but
I love you so much
But I feel like I might stop trying
'Cause a heart can only take so much
- Roxann Williams
I'm in love
I'm in love
She's beautiful
She has a heart of gold
I know she loves me
By what she does
More than what's being told
How do I know?
I know by the things I want to do
I am willing t do
And by the things I've done
I know when I look around me
I see her in everyone
Everything is present
My emotions come alive
Her voice, her mind, her body
Create a healthy drive
I'm taken, I'm given
I've made my choice
I'm celebrating, I'm happy
For I have reason to rejoice
- Keswick Simpson
Departure pain
Just when I thought your worth to
be like that of gold
You left me out in the cold
Thought your love was heaven sent
but in my heart you left a dent
I was left with mixed emotions
but I will ot bow to evil
temptations
I am now lost in a place I call
mad land
Not knowing where I really stand
but if there was something you left
for me
then I might just succeed
or if you could tell me why or try to explain
Then I would not have felt so much pain
- Mark Grant
For my sister
Sometimes it seems like love is gone
Simply dissipated as time passed by
But them, I look in your eyes and
I realise love is very much alive
The slparkle in your eyes as you
both stroll by
Is like looking at the stars in the
still of the night
It's so gripping, it simply cannot be denied
The girly giggle, the boyish smile
It is like watching Adam and Eve reunite
Perfectly fitted to God's delight
Thanks for keeping love shinning
so bright
Please don't hide what you have
just let it shine
And may God continue to be your light
- Patricia Clarke
Express yourself!
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