Poetry (4)

Death

Can you hear that sound?

Yes, that sound

Listen, it's getting louder

But will soon

Eventually fade

It's moving at a rapid rate like a bullet from a gun

It only tells that the end is near

Blood oozing from that gaping hole

Where my heart used to be

Battling with time and space

All my memories came flashing back to me

The good, the precious and the few

I must remember that's the key

Now, cold and numb I cannot even move

Yes, I must now go to face an unseen fate that we all must embrace someday.

- Camile Lyn-Mundy

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Break

Not a picture left

Not a memory to take

Can't see my youthful face

But can't allow myself to break

I feel like Jonah in the whale

A seafarer without a sail

Hurt by my own judgement

By my own assumption gone wrong

Have my two feet but can't stand

These regrets pulling me along

Must walk this life with this stubborn fate

But can't allow myself to break

Never again seeing my youthful face

Not a picture left

No memory to retrace

Must face the backhand of God's great love

I think maybe I'll break

Just this once.

- Lisa Gaye Taylor
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I am

I am a man with a plan

Injustice, war, deceit

No! That's not who I am

Justice, peace, truth, love

There's no need to look above

I am forgotten, left to rotten

Is this true to you?

Who sits beside me, in front of me, behind me

Still you will not touch me or speak to me

Why? You don't know

Who am I?

I am your father, mother, brother, sister

Yes! We were born together

Grew up together

Don't you remember?

I am that teacher, preacher, lawyer

Yes! I am that prime minister

No! That was just a gesture

I was never able to enter

I am knocking, waiting

I am begging, pleading

I am trying, crying out to you

Do you know who I am?

I am Mr Big man, a politician

No! I am wrong, I am justice

Peace, truth, love

I am that man.

- Rally Bishop

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The culture

It's a new culture here

the parties of guns and knives

Celebration with expletives and the killing of wives

Saying happily the G-names of artistes with anger and threat

Bathing in clothes of nudity and killing without regret

Worshipping dons of the area and defending their name

Selling our souls and bodies for money and fame

Fire-torching the homes of men who have dissed

Putting the names of citizens on a hit man's list

Plunging knives or scissors into a classmate's heart

Crushing ganja in palms or exporting them to another part

Trading life early for a grave or sepulchre

Why are you cringing? It's our traditional culture.

- W. Watts

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Detox

Detox, detox I need detox

no doubt I've become addicted to you

Normally I could go weeks without talking

now I go crazy if a few hours pass with no word from you

Detox, detox please give me detox

No joke, this is no lie

I think love has infected my mind

Lust is now a crime, so when I do, I feel guilty

Because of you I look down on every other girl as if they're filthy

Detox, is it right to feel this much pleasure? I wish this would end, never

But she is already taken, married with kids

She's the perfect mother and wife She's his

I want her but I could never break her, turn her into a flawed creature

I could never, plus she would never

Give me the time of day if she knew that was my true intention

This inflicted even more affections

I want her but we could never be

So I'm on my bended knees begging for a detox to set me free.

- Stephen Brown

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A son's lament

Help me, Dad, to right my ways

Assist me to determine what is fair play

Help me to understand

Why I always choose to play the wrong hand

In a bid to secure a win

I always leave one card in the bin

Help me to make things much better

For the one mentioned in my letter

This I ask of you today

Call me, Dad

I need your say

I need a shoulder for my head

A compass, experience

To steer me ahead

Help me transform my inner soul

As I strive to become one whole

I seem not to respect others' worth

What cues do I need to initiate a rebirth?

I'm gripped with fear

And I know if you were here

I would definitely see

The road more clearly

Guide me, Dad, so I can make a move

There's a lot down here that I need to prove

Where do I go? I need to know

What lies ahead beyond the brow.

- Audette Baillie