Medley
What do the boys say when the ladies cry Come over here darling mek mi dry yuh eyes9 months later, when a baby’s on its way, what do boys doTell the young mothers that they will see them soonWhat do the girls do weh see the rich old menCall them daddy and beg to become […]
Oh Jamaica how I long…
Oh bwoy what a story I heard a man say,that jamaica is di place for everyone to play.Him say jesum piece gal yah neva bin there,I say no man tell me bout it yah say yah live where?In de country Westmooreland where it rain,Granny has a house wit nice garden she neva complain.One ting about […]
Familiar Shapes
Twisting and shoutingis what they are accustomed to seeNot the family man, doctor, lawyer, Indian chief, not me. Car wash attendant window washing personalityShelter attendant hallway resident Malcolm said "Those who hunt in the jungle are also hunted". When they see me they think they know who I am a familiar shapePart of their plan […]
The Black Sound
Pitch of the slave boatMoans of people under siege,Beat of the Congo;Plantation melodies.Rhythm of a whipSong for the southA tempo of sadnessNotes of distressThe black soundGhetto tune,Junkie’s harmony,Soft refrainOf poverty;Welfare line lyrics,Player of racist instruments.Broken line chorusThe black sound
Third Ave
The sun risingOver my cornmeal porridgeOn mornings that smell of mornings,While the shadow of Waurika hillRuns towards my table.Barbie doves cooing,For the suns affection,And the sweetSmell of the earth,That rises towards,And becomes,The taste in the Julie mango’s.Chickens chasing feed,Cats meowing,Wash pots boiling,Coal man coming,Fi-sh, Fi-sh, Fi-sh,The bicycle wheels wail,Just after purityHas left a fresh bun […]
My Jamaica Poem!
Jamaica di irie likkle island of mineeverytime I come to yuh, yuh smell so fineMe wanna kiss yuh, and make my dreams come truebecause i miss you, when i see you i feel blue oh jamaica nowwith dem people so nicewith dem rastaman and ristoyou make me equalize I need you in the morningI need […]
Shine Jamaica!
Oh Jamaica of mine,Island of sunYou are so divineYou bring so much fun Port Antonio a townSo beautyfull and oldI let it be knownI will not be unfold Untill I see you againI’m your biggest fan Is there something betterThan jerk chicken and rice?If so write me a letterIt would be very nice I miss […]
A Passion for Peace
In the time before we thoughtabout each other-there was chaos,mis-aligned thinking-day tripping, people lined upto assassinate characters and dreams.This was before we knew- of ourselves, each other,when schemes unfolded to penetrate, to perpituate misconceptionsof the thinking man, black, white, indian, latino, that type of plan.Before there was us, there was me-and sometimes you-runningtowards, going away […]
The Gathering
Here we are once again,Hugging and kissing,embracing folks we only hear about-hearing how much we have grownand who we favor There’s uncleswho are so funnyand aunts who are constantly saying;come here baby. Everyones favorite foodis stretched out on the table;it seems to go on for miles;grown-ups are having quiet drinks,and soft conversations in the kitchen […]
Bans a Killin – Miss Lou poem
The poem “Bans a Killin” written by Miss Lou (Louise Simone Bennett-Coverley OM, OJ, MBE) can be found in her book Aunty Roachy Seh So yuh a de man me hear bout! Ah yuh dem seh dah teck Whole heap a English oat seh dat yuh gwine kill dialec! Meck me get it straight, mas Charlie, […]