poems

Wonder what's wrong with Jamaica?

Wonder what's wrong with Jamaica?

Ask the pastor and he will tell you

Too many sinners, we are far from God

And so the devil is having his own way

In our society today

Wonder what's wrong with Jamaica?

Ask the teacher and she will tell you

Too many uneducated and illiterate youths

They know not the value of education

In order to make this society a better place

Wonder what's wrong with Jamaica?

Ask the police and he will tell you

Too many criminals in our society

Causing a menace to decent citizens

Wonder what's wrong with Jamaica?

Ask the employer and he will tell you

These youth are not qualified for employment

Yet they complain about salary

Wonder what's wrong with Jamaica?

Ask the politician and he will tell you

That all he sees are just some empty-headed voters

To which he makes promises

Never to be fulfilled

Wonder what's wrong Jamaica?

Ask the voters and they will tell you

That they are still waiting for all those promises

Made by their MPs to be fulfilled

Because they only see him once

Every five years

Wonder what's wrong with Jamaica?

Ask the tourist and he will tell you

That whenever he visits the island

All he sees is just another Jamaican

Begging a US dollar

Wonder what's wrong with Jamaica?

Ask the doctor and he will tell you

That we are some sick people

Badly in need of a cure, yet to be found

Wonder what's wrong with Jamaica?

Ask the psychiatrist and he will tell you

That we are some mentally unstable people

With the mind of a sociopath

Wonder what's wrong with Jamaica?

Ask the student and he will tell you

That he is unable to learn in an environment

Where his concentration is greatly disturbed

By violence

Wonder what's wrong with Jamaica?

Ask the athlete and he will tell you

That all he ever wanted to do

Is run away from the many problems

Pursuing his tracks

Wonder what's wrong with Jamaica?

Ask the mechanic and he will tell you

That this country is beyond repair

Wonder what's wrong with Jamaica?

Let's ask ourselves and we see nothing wrong

Because we are a people who

Cannot see us with our own eyes

What's wrong with Jamaica?

Ask the eternal father who is supposed to bless our land

And he will tell you that we

Have turned away his mighty hand

From guiding us

- Leon Pryce

Emancipendence

Who are we

The mothers, daughters, fathers, sons - descendants of those that came before us

Those who, each in their own way,

helped to shape the way we lives today

And though we are not fully there,

still stumbling in the dark before sunrise

we continue to strive,

strive for the better and lighted days,

this is why we rise

There are days gone

filled with dirt, dust and rain

and though some still remain

floating on by, enlightening us with the last of their lessons

we begin to see the sun again

Lift not only heads and eyes

but also hearts and minds

and rise into the new dawning sky

Uplift yourself

Then turn around and help another,

Uplift another

Talk down not one another

but see his or her flaws

and help him/her transform

your greatness is there to help another

as another's greatness is to help you

Only together shall we rise

Only together shall we emancipate into the light

Only together shall truth rise

as we step together, independence clothed

into the new, risen and enlightened life

- Tora S.

Tings will get betta

Massa Earl came so near to us and gave our island Jamaica a real scare

But we thank God dat wi did just brace wiself and had no fear

Yu si,wi maybe a likke island but di people dem have a big-g-g-g-g heart,

And despite everything dat can happen everybody can play dem part

Wi haffi mek sure wi stay alert man, and on the right path

We need fi listen to ODPEM and the shelter managers dem

Mi sey tek up yu important tings and protect dem

Yes! Get enough food and wata fi yu family and yu friends

Don't let hungry get the betta of dem

And if yu know sey yu house caan manage the weatha

Go to the shelta and continue fi praise God

Cause wi know dat tings will get betta

- Kayon Stephenson-Wilson

Full house

Everyone loves a full house

pizza

except take out the olives

mushrooms

and any shell products

- Helen-Ann Elizabeth Wilkinson