Poetry 5

Waving their rags

Some sat on the windows

Throwing caution and safety to the wind

Shouting, 'Shower! Shower!'

They were on the bus

Rocking and dancing

Creating a whirlwind of excitement

Delight and glee

Ear-splitting noise gripped the bus

As they shouted,' Power! Power!

They form a sea of green

They form a sea of orange

They think, feel and see colours

But, I ask: Do you think

Feel and see me, Jamaica?

Am I their priority?

Am I their heartbeat?

- Ugochukwu Durueke
_______________________

Untrue alibi

Your Honour, my client is innocent

It wasn't him

He was nowhere near the crime scene

I agree he's the owner of the car and all evidence points to him

To find my client guilty would be a sin

There is nothing to prove

he was not the driver

All witnesses can only assume

I agree, Your Honour, that my client told his wife he was going to a meeting

He was held up at a hotel suite upon leaving.

- Ricardo Cole
_______________________________


Bloodstained

I lie as still as

nothingness

waiting

for this haunting to stop

needing it to stop

that I might breathe

and live

and smile

and feel again

but instead

I ache

I agonise

and the pain rips me apart

slowly

purposefully

and I suffocate

I give in

I fall

I break

into little fragments of you.

- Tobi-Ann Pape
_____________________________

Woman

A woman talks but a man hides

A woman's heart is in her eyes

The woman feels what's really real

But a man sees only sex appeal

She's discredited, unappreciated and humiliated for the name she bears

For the clothing she wears

And if she sheds a tear, you only see weakness

even when she doesn't fear

You pull her in, you throw her back

You want her for your benefit but she's more than that

And if the woman talks and doesn't hide

Then this woman seems to have no pride

A woman is taught to love a man's lies

Then she cries when she really wants to die

And you'll soon find no heart within her eyes

A woman gets what the world decides

But she'll remain strong

She'll still show her pride.

- Shanique Francis
_____________________________

In my reality

I see the glitter of the ring you never gave me

Hear the music play to the dance we never had

I hear the laughter to the joke you never told me

Teasing me on to make me glad

And in this loneliness

You still are all I see

Though there are so many things you deprived me of

And if given the chance

To give you my heart again

I would without hesitation

Without anticipation of pain

For I see the glitter.

- Sharlene Codner
_____________________

Life

Take chances

Lifeis a risk

Opportunities may come your way

Someyou will miss

Be ready to look fear in the eyes

Withconfidence and courage

You maybe be surprised

Learn all you can on your way

Work for what you want

Love is the only way

Life has itsups and downs

Can be happy

At times

Weara frown

Life is a journey weall have to take

It's not an easy road

Don't get stuck in the gravel

Be the best that you can

Try to listen and understand

Always remember

Aman is just a man

Never forget to give a helping hand

Some never make it out of the womb

But we all have to make it one day to the tomb.

- Dwayne S. Mattis
_________________________

What's left of me

Have you ever wondered why I am who they say I am?

Harsh, mean and sarcastic are only a few traits at hand

Well, it all plays as part of my childhood scheme

I was moulded into something that was much less of a human being

The reason I hurt, no one ever asks it seems

Or was it mainly because I kept it all inside, showing no signs of heart's broken seams?

I didn't believe this could have ever happened to me

Falling too deeply in love was just a childish dream

The day you won my heart was my lesson learnt

As I allow these walls to fall apart, I yearn

For a love that warmed my heart

I admit I was a little bit paranoid I didn't plan to be this way

I really wanted to show you how much I cared

I guess I will never stop loving you no matter how much it aches.

- Nastasia Findley
____________________________

Forever long

How long:

Should mother's love be felt?

Or baby's smiles make one's heart melt?

Spring with all its freshness last?

To the dream should we hold fast?

Joy be known of youthful days?

Before we with loved ones part ways?

The tear of sadness fall?

Before we build dividing walls?

Or ere the heart becomes stone cold?

And men be valued less than gold?

Before there's hunger, pain or thirst?

Or we see in man the worst?

Till this no more is my song?

May it be forever long.

- Sean C. Harrison