Poetry

No matter

Regardless of how hard I try

My soul never seizes to cry

These walls of Babylon are so high

At times they leave me no choice but to hope I'll die

My life needs peace

But there is nowhere to find it

My heart craves love

But who is willing to give it?

I want to be free

From captivity

But who has enough courage to fight for me?

I go to bed with eyes drowning in tears

Heart overflowing with fears

And wake up the same throughout the years

But there's no hope in trying

Because my tired soul will just keep on crying.

- Orville Murray

___________________

Jamaica, my love

I like your shape, I like your attire

The way you are curved, you have much to admire

With your slender slopes and mountainous peaks

There are areas of you I cannot reach

You are ever so soft as I lay with you

I am indeed jealous because I cannot get much of you

Others think they can have their way with you

But I believe my future lies within you

I won't leave, I will stay

As my true love is JA.

- Hilary Buchanan

__________________

Walk alone

I'll walk alone

for when I'm with you

I can only dance to your rhythms

or speak in your tongues

I live through your eyes

and walk with your feet

I use your mind to think

and panic grabs at me

when you're not here

to hold my hand

So I'll walk alone

walk alone to live and to breathe

on my own.

- Rohan Facey

_________________

I won't die

You thought you killed me but I won't die

I sigh, I cry but I won't die

How could I just lie down and not try

When tomorrow could be my day to spread my wings and fly?

You tried to break me, but I just won't shatter

You took all that mattered

Now I'm torn and battered

You threw darts at my heart

But that's not the end it's just the start

For I am stronger than yesterday and still weaker than tomorrow

For time will free me from these chains of sorrow

You buried me but I will rise

Although tears fill these eyes and my soul is low

Like a buried seed I am bound to grow

Rise up and spread my petals and glow

I refuse to die, No not I

When tomorrow could be my day to spread my wings and fly.

- Seon Lewis

________________

Connection

We talk to each with our eyes

And sometimes answer with a smile

But we never spoke a word in time

Though we know what is on each other's mind

When are we going to break the silence?

Hear those words we know to be true

When are we going to hear each other's tender voice?

Softly whispering 'I love you'.

Forbidden are we by law

because we each have someone else's heart

Though we'll never get to hear those unspoken words

there is no need to repair my heart 'cause it's not broken

So we'll continue to talk to each other with our eyes

and sometimes answer with a smile

but we'll never say a word in time

'cause we both know what is on each other's mind.

- Tashmin Galloway

___________________

How he loved!

Sweeping her off her feet

with smooth, sweet talk

being a perfect gentleman

hard-working, a great sense of humour

a good listener with a warm heart

that's how he loved her

waking at nights to help with the young

providing, securing, protecting

at all costs

being a mature figure in the time of greatest need

that's how he loved her

being present at late-night hospital visits

always transforming into a fun-filled station

always open for questions

no matter how silly they sounded

that's how he loved her

the fabric from which this wonderful dad was cut unfortunately has been a year gone

I miss you, Dad!

- Xavier Llewellyn

___________________

Thank you, Dad

Thanks for the many things you tried

To make life worthwhile

Even when things were tough

With us, you still stuck

You travelled long journeys on your feet

To ensure we had food to eat

Though the pay cheques were small

You gave us your all

With the sun pelting your back

In your field you tended your crops

Since this was the only way

To ensure you had a payday

Dad, for you life was a challenge

But somehow you managed

To love us nonetheless

And prove that as a Dad

You are the best.

- Dawn Kameka-Burrowes

_________________

You

Be proud of who you are

You are admired from afar

Your character depicts a star

Take a bow, au revoir.

- Hilary Buchanan

_________________

Sundown

The sun is now gone

And the stars shine dimly

The atmosphere is now calm

And I feel the peace within me

I lay down on my bed

And close my eyes

Thinking of what lies ahead

The minute the sun rise

The room is quiet and reliable

And I'm ready to sleep

My position is now comfortable

And I've finished counting sheep

But I am stopped

Dead in my tracks

I am again fully awake

As my eyes open again

I cannot sleep

Because it's too bright

For the night's peace

Shines a very bright light.

- Kamicee McDowell
__________________

Slave to memory

Déjà vu

Unforgotten moments

Banished thoughts

Coming back to haunt

Evaded secrets

Avoided truths

Forbidden mistakes

Flooding all my thoughts

I.

Proud unbeliever

Cursing the deceiver

The minds' sole retriever

Cramping my central energetics

The hated mind-reader

Detesting its harsh cruelties

No blocking out its haunting cries

Secretive lies

Crying in distaste

To a warped and twisted mind

Loathing the fact that I

Among the majority

Have become a slave to memory.

- Van Jackson

_______________

The drunkard

He stumbled towards me, ugly

Cherry-eyed, scorched pink lips hissing like a serpent

I turned away, disgusted

Averting his gaze

So, you think you are better than me?

He held out foul-smelling hands

Clutching a bottle of fire, smiling sardonically

I pouted, cursing under bated breath

You want to take a sip with me?

He fell to my feet grunting

Bottle crashing, splinters flying

Like acid rain washing his unashamed face

So, why has the spirit left me?

He looked up at me and I looked down

He a wretched grin and I a glaring frown

Must you continue to live like this?

Give me another drink, he said

And I will give you anything you wish.

- Carlene Higgins

_______________

She said

Did I not tell you not to go over there?

Over that yard

Where it is always dark and dirty

As their blackness litters the place

But she said

Stop! I don't want to hear it

It is always 'she said'

That girl

She said you could come

She said it was right

She said everything and you

would believe

Imagine that

My own believing them

But she said

But she said nothing

Get out of my sight, you foolish child

She said

She said nothing.

What did he say?

I tried to tell him what you said

But he did not listen

Why I always say, she said.

- Jehnell Spencer