Poems

I can’t breathe

“I can’t breathe!” Oh, that despairing plea,

A life on the edge, crushed by a proud knee;

It rose from lips in the grip of hate,

None to help, for alas, it’s too late.

No sign of remorse or hint of regret,

Not from hearts upon evil set.

“I can’t breathe!’ whispered in the dead of night

There is no doubting the depth of fright;

Again, a far off sound, like a muted scream.

Was I awake or was it a dream?

A wrenching of heart, a tearing of soul

Another wretched deed done – oh, most foul.

There on the ground, lies Democracy

The love, the hope and the history;

“I can’t breathe!” that pained refrain

Taunted and derided with utter disdain;

Slowly dying, smothered by lies

Aged and fragile – the experiment dies.

Look around – no tears are shed

Who really cares if Democracy is dead.

How could this be? No, it cannot be!

In the land of the brave, the home of the free?

The warnings were many, the listeners few;

While injustice flourished, courage withdrew.

We took it for granted that it could survive,

And totally unaided would continue to thrive.

Yet, it’s old as the hills – it’s nothing new.

We’ve seen it before, what one lie can do;

In the story of Eden, where all was well,

They embraced the lie, and welcomed hell.

“I can’t breathe!” Oh, that despairing plea

A life on the edge, crushed by a proud knee;

Must it always end this way?

Is there no hope for a better day?

Who will rise and join the fight?

Might must never triumph over right!

– Winston J. McKay

# # #

Chicken back politics

Chicken back politics

Wi no want e no more

Government and opposition

Only incense the poor

Dem no see dem tribalism

Only divide di nation

Man from X Lane

Cyaa walk go a Y Land

Everyday mi wake

Cain create another Abel

Di graduates dem future bright

Like House of di 7 Gable

Dem a behead di pickney dem

Right out of the cradle

Gi wi hopes bout di economy

When it’s just another fable

Out of many people

Yet still we are one

And though we may not agree

Be tolerant

The discriminated has

Become the discriminator

Be it race, sexuality or gender

Each side defending

Its very own agenda

Orange and green

Fight in the throng

Why can’t we all

Just get along?

And meanwhile this goes on

The chicken backs out

Of the gate

Before oxtail prices dip

And they remember

Ghetto Steak.

– Lisa Gaye Taylor

# # #

balance the equation

Shake it up and let us balance the equation

What is done to the right the same must be done to the left

After the union is done, we are no longer two but one loving being

On our graph we are a mirror image

Faithfulness is the thread that sews my clothes.

However, boo I will not play the fool

You skip a page I must skip a page too

What is good for you must be good for me too

Since we are one, we share the same likes

Since your favourite holiday is Easter all the way

Roses are red and violets are blue

If you can play tic tac toe, I can play three in a row

I will serve it cold because I am that bold

I am you and you are me

What sweet you should sweet me too.

Your journey away from me made rain fall

But boo, I made lightning flash and thunder roll

When I shake it creates a massive earthquake

I created a 10.2 earthquake; you should see me go

When I move, I shift the earth tectonic plate

Kisses and hugs to you my love

Remember, boo, if you are faithful, I am too.

– Patree Haynes