POETRY

• POEM OF THE WEEK  -  MY STAFF

that 'staff'

remains

even in the darkest of moments

God is my staff

my resource, my team

my soldiers, my workforce, my dependable

people, my back up, my forward, my goal

attack, my wing attack, my centre, my concrete

solution, my force, my substance, my "backative"

Thy Staff

are my holy ordinance

my support

my "comfort"

God is my general

my boss

I can lean on him

When my feet are wobbly ...

Thy Staff

will help me to get things done

to accomplish

achieve

be successful

Staff, God gives me that title

and it remains forever mine

my unlimited resources

throngs of angels are my defence

- Helen-Ann Wilkinson

• That bird called alzheimer's

Alzheimer's is a bird, which

feeds ravenously,

On old people's thoughts and

memories,

It pecks its way through your

head,

After which it leaves its victims

emotionally dead,

Drives away your family and

friends,

Dry and hollow is one's thinking

faculty in the end,

A man might beg for mercy,

But the bird takes away his

sanity, making him fit for the

nursery,

It lays eggs of madness in your

brain,

Making you think urine is rain,

Puts us all in agonising pain,

As we watch the bird which is

the bane,

Peck and lick, peck and lick,

peck and lick making you lame,

That bird called Alzheimer's will

catch you in its beak of a net,

Until your blood turns to sweat,

Makes your family and friends

fret,

As they behold your impending

death.

- Steven-Paul McLean

• That same old familiar line

After we dance, I think there's a

chance that you might want to

spend a little more time with me.

And so I'm trying to find some

new words to say to you before

the evening is through.

But even with my best effort, I

still can't come up with

something nicer to say than, "I

love you."

I sure hope you won't mind me

repeating that same old familiar

line, the one that people in love

often say.

For I know that when I get closer

to you, I'll simply, end up saying,

'Baby, I love you.'

I want to tell you something

sweeter than anything that

you've ever heard before.

But I guess there's just nothing

sweeter to say to a very special

person than I love you.

And that same old familiar line

is what I'm depending on tonight

to capture your precious heart.

- Marlon Pitter

• Catharsis

It has come at long last

freedom

relief, poetic justice

Bitter, some may think

Unfair even

Life

what is this you have given

me?

You have dealt a black card

A black mark you have placed

upon my heart

death - thy sweet relief

come hither

Better than this

All this

The unending hole in my

heart

The lump in my throat

The ache in my belly

Tears subside

Pain unruly, unbridled

Release my heart

Let me be

This is too much

Even for me.

- Claudia Smythe-Dunn

• You call me love

I know you love me, although in

an unexpected way.

Your affection for me shows in

most of the things you do.

I'm convinced that your love is

more real than any love I've ever

known.

And I feel this way because

every day you call me "Love."

I admit, I never call you by your

name.

I should have even said

something nice to you like, "Baby."

But this doesn't mean I love you

any less.

What keeps you loving me this

way after so long?

I can't imagine why you still

have a burning desire for me.

But your love just refuses to fade

through time.

Your appreciation for me

remains a mystery that I can't

unfold.

Why is your love so deeply

rooted?

The answer to your unending

love eludes my comprehension.

But I thank God that you're such

a wonderful person, and you're

mine.

You're the best gift I've ever

received.

All through the years you've

brightened the dull spots of my

heart.

In sickness and despair, you've

always been there.

Your love has pulled me through

even the roughest times.

And today we still have a love

that is going strong.

I consider myself fortunate that

you play an important role in my

life.

But even moreso, I have

someone to call me "Love."

And this poem is just my way of

expressing how much I love you.

- Antessa Kerr

• Our love

I miss you so much it hurts deep

inside,

I love you so much that it can't

even hide.

I am glad the day that you came

in my life,

And I know someday you will

call me your wife.

Nothing can stop our love to

endure,

That's one thing I know for sure,

No pain, no fights we have now

and then,

They are only there to see what

we will do in the end.

So I won't give up on us,

because this is what I want pretty

bad

You could be hard as a stone

until I get mad.

But I will not let go and that's

the plan,

So get familiar not to shake

hand.

Your laughter fills my day; your

smile is warming to me,

I miss all of that and someday

you will see.

May the Lord continue to bless

you in every way,

And baby just one more thing,

have a wonderful day.

I LOVE YOU

- Francennia Parkinson

• Hone our own

We said "no more Crown

Jubilee;

Give us our due please, set us

free.

We've come of age. We want to

wean

Our suckling babe from Mother

Queen".

So with her blessings t'was our

turn

To teach the world, to

self-govern.

With new identity and will

We set to grow, to build, to till

Land of wood, water, beaches

stun

Floods of guests come bask in

our sun

Our music, art, athletes and all

Set us apart where we stand tall

But after five decades of toil;

Each woman, man, son of the

soil.

Wond'ring have we been but a

tool

To fatten whom we'd honed to

rule?

Our nation's trusted fiduciary,

Though some have been, yet not

thrifty.

In her spoils a fumbling ever.

Comes up thinking "aren't I

clever?"

Shame that in all of 50 years

We've not learned from blood,

sweat or tears.

Though wood, water, beaches

abound

Still, not enough food goes

around

My last two lines above I'll

mention

One more time, get your

attention

Traila load a wood, wata, beach

an' sun

Kiss off wid dat if no dollas nah

run!

Now recall when not long ago

This land stood proud - and

rightly so:

For industries we once did hone.

Rid one by one; foredads

bemoan.

For out of one, many people

It's hard to find basic staple.

Make matters worse, woke up

one day

Some guy said I owe 600K!

That was a year and months

aback

Nearly dropped dead from that

heart attack.

Wonder what sum today I owe.

Shush! Don't tell me: don't want

to know!

Lest self-afflictions overwhelm

Lord, rain your guidance at the

helm.

For truer words have not been

said:-

The stream's dirty if so's its

head.

- Lascelles Patrick Clarke