More poems

Sometimes all you need is ashoulder on which to cry,

a little help for you to find your blue sky,

a friend of great wishes when you have dark days,

they will try to find what is missing,

there comes a time when you just need a hand,

to find the balance in your conflicting situations.

You cannot continue being a portion of yourself,

make some effort to meet the person reaching out to you with help,

success is better when you endure the pain,

living is a reality, awake from your dream,

you cannot give up on sunshine all because it continues to rain,

never found yourself expecting the road to be completely straight,

life is not prepared for you so be prepared to wait,

always anticipate times to come when the waves are high and the tides are great.

The world is not all sunshine and rainbows,

there comes a time when the path is covered with snow,

you have to be frozen but never break,

lose everything but hold on to the last straw of faith,

you are always able to show persons how great you are,

how the downward trend can propel you far,

when you still stand after

sustaining a malevolent fall.

- Emil Simms

(Olive Senior - 'Colon Man the Panama Experience')

(South)... I am mesmerised by the concept

of the 'The Travelled Man'.

Man generic ... I receive that meaning ...

the fact is, we are all

travellers

Middle passage, triangle, 'trade hubs'

Little parts of me belonging over the region, Costa Rica? Venezuela? Nassau, Bahamas?

handling such genetic logistics makes you belong everywhere and home no where

past and present, we pass through the birth canal

into the canals of life, despite 'spatial' imbalances, hearing lost, disequilibrium, dizzy spells, nausea, travel sickness

with struggle, pain and compromise - fragmented yet one

All travellers we African, Caribbean, Asian, European, multiracial communities

Workers, seekers, speakers.

(West) ... Blended with the

'physical' travelling

is the spiritual near death experience we have here in this life

and the death of those close to us in the journey also gives us new insights into the nature of life

Packed in bots, ships, century after century without name or passport

that must raise us to another life: To live is to do or die

... (north) ... So hence... 'dying to better themselves'

relentless hope, now new toning

dying hair, head, heart, skin, roast breadfruit

continue to be 'dying to

better themselves' braving the elements on board open deck

city sidewalks, markets, Best suited in the present tense

Better however to do this, as no amount of talking nor explaining

is going to make anyone lift a 'block' to build ur house

protect your home

you alone are facing your own peculiar, brand name, tailor made poverty, rescue yourself

you have to make your ends meet, whatever the RISK ...

(east) ... Somewhat metaphysical

'Travelling' creating such

Leaders as Bustamante

Beautiful literature

Phenomenal historical analysis

Really touching the heart,

The mind, the spirit,

Thanks,

Congrats

Honourable Olive Senior

Us 'Colonial Girls', we are

travelling

We are just here to dig out a better existence

For our children and we hope no longer holes for burials

- Helen-Ann

Elizabeth Wilkinson