Poetry 1

POEM OF THE WEEK

At the altar

The church was empty today when she sat in the front pew

Distant memories of years past came flooding back

It sadly reminded her of how much time had passed, because everything she once knew had surely changed

For this is where her life began

At this very place

And memories of her life before that fateful day, forgotten disappeared without a trace

This is where she left her childhood dreams thinking they had finally come true

But reality, she realised, is bitter-sweet as her dreams soon morphed into nightmares

For this is where she had to grow up and become a woman for a man she thought she knew

And without thought or reason, this is where she left the young girl behind who was confident and carefree

To slowly become the kind of woman he wanted her to be

This is where she left the world she knew for the allure of the unknown

For a life that changed her into someone she recognises no more

And so she cries

Her grief a burden she constantly bears

For this is where she left it all

She cries for the life that ended that fateful day and the dreams she left behind.

- Tameisha Ann-Marie Smith

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Broken

I was so happy to befriend you

I didn't think it's too good to be true

There was nothing you needed to do

I stupidly shared my all with you

Expecting you to remain true

Then like lightning, it struck

My eyes were opened up

That you I shouldn't trust

But I just don't know how to give up

Since you mean so much

My heart is torn

Wish my love hadn't grown

As I would just turn around

Leave without a sound

With my head still above the ground

Why must it all end this way?

Why can't a true friend with me stay?

Now, with a broken heart I must go my way

And trust your tongue with you will stay.

- Dawn Kameka-Burrowes

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Overwhelming sadness

The smile on my face is fake

All of my happiness, depression takes

If only things could be different one day when I wake

The only reason I live is for my child's sake

I don't know how much more of this I can take

because deep inside I feel like I am going to break.

- S.A Robinson

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Loneliness

It craves someone's attention

You feel like hiding, screaming, pondering

You feel trapped in prison

You hate every bit of it

Time passes slowly

And each minute seems like an hour

It's horrible

It pains

Your heart throbs

Smiling, laughing, hugging or even playing is at the last thing on your mind

Confusion covers your body

And for some reason

Guilt is present in its entirety

You are lost

Life seems meaningless to you

And torn into a million pieces

You crumble into a tiny ball

Trying to hold yourself together but you can't

And with no solution to your problem

You explode

Yes

You begin to cry.

- Jeronia Jackson

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Invincible

No matter how much I try to go around the facts

And stay in this dream world

Where in my mind

You belong with me

The day you and I will no longer have to hide in the shadows

Is drawing nearer and nearer

The facts still hit me repeatedly

Like bullets through my brain

You chose her over me

Deep down, that truth is obvious

And with or without me in this picture frame

She will always take first place

The dream world indicates that your actions

Are ones of devoted affection towards me

And what we could be

Which each night, we seal that promise

With slow, lingering, passionate kisses

When in reality, this has become another one-sided affair

Where my heart has become child's play

Your workout routine

To see how many beatings my shattered heart can endure

Counting the beatings you and others have bestowed upon it

I seem immortal and invincible

As the wear and tear is always renewed

but the mental scars are left behind.

- Toni-Ann Lindo