Poetry

POEM OF THE WEEK

Rum and Raisin

Ice cream ... ice cream

So nice, I've gotta write it twice

A dessert that's one of the best

Soft, smooth, satisfying, sweet

There isn't a nicer frozen treat

On a cone, in a bowl or cup, lick it or spoon it up

Two or three scoops, 'cause one's not enough

It's simply irresistible stuff

Rum and Raisin, with an intoxicating edge

It's my favourite ice cream flavour

Can't wait to have it again, to savour

Rum the strong, raisin the sweet

They were united in dessert matrimony

Working well together, in harmony

The rum ingredient tastes heavenly

Coupled with raisin, the palate's in ecstasy

Rum and Raisin ice cream

A delight either day or night

So delectable, it's made just right

Perfectly blended every time

Cold to the lips, warm to the spirit

I'll have some soon, in a minute

It's a sweet tooth's best friend

Good from beginning to end

Rum and Raisin, it's supreme

An ice cream lover's dream

It tantalises the taste buds

My guilty pleasure, in busy or leisure

The memory of it has me palpitating

And my mouth is watering

For some Rum and Raisin in a cup

I'll eat it all up, down to the last drop

- S. Dionne Phillips

Borrowed womb

Who spat it in place?

As if I don't know

The seeds of joy or sorrow

Sometimes both,

A mixture of misery and pleasure

A pocket of hope of known expectation and of unknown outcome

Eagerly awaiting delivery

Months of nurturing,

Days of wonder

Hours of labour

Now giving rise to ceaseless ponder,

Seemingly, warranted sacrifices, toil, plans and hopes

Nature's curse or blessing?

The price for pleasure

The product of the living crave

The offspring of life

A leased possession

The Eve's curse glorified

My child!

Or am I just a borrowed womb?

- Mandége

Pavatty

Yuh! Ole Pavatty

How long yuh tink yuh coulda did trick mi

Fi live inna your society

Wid yuh pap dung laws

Weh food a scarce commodity

Weh mi haff tief wata an tief electricity

Weh mi cant even find lunch money fi gi mi pickney

Now really!

Afta Jesus became poverty

That I might be rich an live abundantly

Yuh tell mi pure lie! 'bout riches anno fi mi

Jus chuu mi neva know who mi be

Yuh an fear gang up pon mi

Have mi walk roun like dead dog inna Lodebar

Neva know seh mi joint heir wid Jesus

An dat mean seh mi a rich rich pickney

Have mi up an dung inna pure lean boot an second han clothes

Weh can't fit mi

Yuh tink mi figat

How yuh mek mi hungry

Mi maaga like a dog cause malnourish tek mi

Mi blood count drop

Anaemia nayly kill mi

As much as how dumpling an butta nice

Yuh neva tink seh mi woulda want likkle oxtail an rice an peas

wid likkle vegetable side a it

yuh si dah same bulga deh weh yuh use to feed mi wid

a it a gwine force dung yuh throat tonight

Yuh tink mi figat

How yuh did brainwash mi

an tell mi 'bout how everybody betta mi

An 'bout how a good education an a good house far from mi

Have mi chat negative things bout myself

Bout mi bruk, mi salt, an nutten naah gwaan fi mi

Mi should a know seh a lie yuh a tell inno

Because Psalms 23 tell mi 'bout still wata,

Green pasture, an di table weh God have prepare fi mi

but yuh know wah

now mi know a who a my daddy

El Shaddai, him a di King of Kings

Yuh hear dat

Yuh si seh a nuh regular smaddy

An if him a King weh dat mek mi

Yuh suh dunce yuh couldn't figure it out

Ole Pav

A princess!

But yuh can call mi prinny

An all weh belong to him

Belong to mi

An mi have full access to it

Yuh caah chat to mi

Cause mi have him PIN numba

F.A.I.T.H

Plus a favour a my currency

All yuh couldn't spen i

Yuh know ever since mi accept God policy

Mi stop go a my bed hungry

All if him haffi sen a john crow come feed mi

Mi loike the policies dem weh him have fi mi

Fi give mi peace an end weh mi expect

But your manifesto mi a reject

Fi mek mi bruk an hungry everlasting

An fi likkle fool-fool position a wuk

yuh have mi fighting

Lawd Geezas

Things a gwaan fi mi

ever since mi stop nyaam mi tithes an offering

Mi would like fi stay an chat

But no! wus who mi know who yuh be! Lyaaad!

plus too much chatting an laziness

Lead to Pavatty

Mi a go through di door now

an mi a warn yuh nuh falla mi

Mi fren prosperity outside a wait pon mi

Plus yuh know wah

Come goodness, come mercy

Aaronic blessing yuh go in front a mi

Bye Poverty...

- Latoya Hamilton