Poetry 3

Who's to be blamed?

Today a baby was found lying in the street

But who, if anyone accepts the blame?

Quick to condemn, the people say

'Di mada fi dead!'

'Yeah, a dat mi seh'

'How she fi lef the pickney inna di road from yesterday?'

But isn't the father also to be blamed?

Didn't he help put her under some strain?

Standing in the crowd with his hands by his side

Remembering, what to her he had replied

'Gwaan goh dash weh the pickney, afta a nuh fi mi dat!

Yuh mussi tink seh man a eediat!'

And where is the mother in all this shame?

No

She shouldn't be spared some of the blame

Even if she couldn't manage to care for another

That does not mean you should shun your own daughter

Today a baby was found lying in the street

But who, if anyone accepts the blame?

- Chandia Walters

Still hurt

You owe me another tear

Your bill is getting pretty high

Is it just me?

Or do you really enjoy making me cry?

I had another sleepless night

It's been happening all week

Is it just me?

Or is my tongue too numb to speak?

I'm hearing voices

They're telling me to give up

Don't you see?

You've tortured me enough

I still love you, anyway

Take all the time from the clock

As for me

I'll be hiding under a rock

- Joy-Ann Lewars

Fire!

The latest, two years old

Eighteen months!

Three years old

A family of four

Fire, fire!

Sparks greeting each other excitedly

Running along electrical connection

Embers becoming flames

Feeding, breathing, blazing with

The encouragement of wood

A cry from afar

Way out in the distance

A moan here and there

But only angry flames were shouting near

Drowning any other shout for help

And when the fire gave up playing with its inhabitants

Slowly, water creeps in

One, maybe two sirens could be heard

After hours of rain

Only black coal could be seen

Under black were charred remnants

Of what used to breathe, laugh, live!

- Jehnell Spencer

What do you remember?

Tell me, what do you remember?

I bet you remember

The birth and death

Of Jesus Christ

But tell me

Do you remember how

They crucified Ras Tafari?

I bet you remember

The holidays and holy days

Of the pagan fiesta

But tell me

Do you remember how they

Try to eradicate Rasta?

I bet you remember

The months and days of the Roman calendar

But tell me, do you remember

The year in which they

Were slaughtering Rasta?

We've had many rulers governments and prime ministers

But do you know who

Was fighting against the existence

Of the Rastafarian followers?

Your past is your history

What you don't know is mystery

But whether bald head or Rasta

We are all part of a larger family

The love of Jah has no division

He offers salvation to each and everyone

But why is it that we fail

To accept each other

Tell me, what do you remember?

Do not let ignorance and shame

Hang over your shoulders

It is time to learn about the life

Of our elders

Walk with us through the traditions

Of our forefathers

And teach us the truth about our culture

So that we may be able

To tell others

What we remember

- Leon Pryce

Enemy

My enemy is my friend

My friend is my enemy

My enemy are people

Who I think nothing of

They all want to be me

But instead I set them free

They can't be me

Because God only made

One of me

But none of them

- Latonia Stewart

Love

Relationships are not lasting

But love is and should be

So I humbly ask

Love, what is love?

Sex! Money! Colour! Wealth! Cars! Giving! Beauty!

What is love?

Strength or weakness

Appearance, achievement qualification?

I wish I knew

In the name of love people marry each other

In the name of love people kill each other

In the name of love people hurt each other

In the name of love people starve each other

In the name of love people rob each other

In the name of love people use the Scripture to torment each other

In the name of love people use each other

In the name of love people move from person to person

In the name of love people become single parents

In the name of love people live and die

- Patricia Ranger

Express yourself!

Send your poems to editorial@gleanerjm.com. Not all poems will be published.