Poetry

POEM OF THE WEEK

Back to school

"...Back to school

Pickney?

You nuh know what it cost

When you go back ah school no badda get lost ... !"

... Memories of Mama ...

Bambi ...

Puff the Magic Dragon

We reflect on our childhood days

We want to change our childish ways ...

... People in the market

Their eyes full of tears

Tightly holding on to their wares

Back to school fares

Back to school tears

Back to school fears

We make it

We always do

But it is always a stretch

A woman told me at the cashier counter

She just gave a neighbour $5,000 help with back-to-school

Cause she know when she did have young pickney it always challenging to

send them back to school

Blessed Mother

In the hurried streets

Thank you for your help

You wipe away our sorrows

Give us bright tomorrows

We cannot walk without you

We transcend hunger to save the bus fare

We forgive, 70x7, those who wrong us for they know what they do

We lay ourselves at your feet dear Lord,

Bless every bus driver who see a pickney and mother cry

And give them a ride and connect them to a book, learning

Bless the doctor who won't charge and don't have a vacation

To save people like me in this nation

We are saved by one

If you start counting the one

You have out of many one ... people ...

People,

Thanks

- Helen-Ann Wilkinson


Wha coulda sweet like the sweep!

Wha coulda sweet like the sweep?

Bolt and Blake had it lock

But who knew Warren could a dweet

We likkle but we strong

They way we a galang

You woulda swear sey a we run London

Who coulda fast like the lightning?

We know the man dem fast, but 36. was frightening

Big up Shelly-Ann, our golden girl

White man, Chiney man tun fan

And join the song, sing Jamaica to the world

Wha coulda sweet like the sweep?

Them never know Bolt could a repeat

But they got struck by lightning

Devoured by the beast

And it was the sweetest icing when Warren got a piece

No worry yourself, Asafa

We know them nuh faster

But if we did get two sweep

All visa woulda cease

What a celebration across the nation

Pon top a the 50 jubilation

Our Eternal Father truly blessed this land

So, hold you head high when you say

I am Jamaican

- Seon Lewis

I'll always be here for you

I sense a distance between us; you seem very far away

No longer do you rush to see me at the end of your day.

I cannot help but wonder; am I losing your heart?

Are you drifting away from me?

Are we growing apart?

I remember when you used to touch me

Oh, what pleasure the thought still brings.

Just the way you would look at me

Would make my heart sing.

I long for the melody of your voice,

Whispering lovingly into my ear

Endearing words of love that every woman wants to hear.

I am living from the memories we created in the past;

Nights of passionate lovemaking I thought would always last.

Has someone taken your love away?

Is there another where I used to be?

Or is it you've been burdened by life's stormy seas.

Whatever challenges you are facing

Whatever heartache you are going through

Just know you don't have to face them alone

I'll always be here for you.

- Diane Franklyn

Along the lane

The moon dawdled

In the night -

A mere half-spoon of

Milky light, while

Inside mirrors it stood

Skimming

Black lengths

Roadside weeds

And zinc fence

Then -

In kinship discovered

Shocked

We stare at each other

It's longer and shorter

Than mine

Brother sub-lessors

Of earth and time.

- Peter Anglin

Evening exam

Something about a night like this

When the sky is mauve behind many shadows

When a ghostly lighthouse beam

Stares from some classroom door

And breeze bats around a square room

Having flounced in through open louvres

Something about this evening

With the abbreviated branch of a veiny tree

Stabbing at a dancing sky

And leaves in senseless joy applause

As wind laughs from east to west

Something I care not to define

But enjoy -

Silent students, wind-swept room

Sitting

- Peter Anglin