| ONE DAY | 25yrs FROM 79 | THE GRAVEYARD | WHAT I WOULD AND WOULD NOT DO |
| JUST A MINUTE | THIS SIDE UP |
ONE DAY
One day, whether far or near
One day comest may.
Shall glory be ranted
In the manifestation of mercy.
The sun will retract its shine,
The moon cheated and left bare.
Reality becomes the imaginary –
A realm where truth is intertwined with lie,
Knowledge with ignorance,
Shortsightedness with perseverance.
One day, mayest darkness prevail.
The light shall not be desired.
The edge is preferred than the safety of firm ground.
That day, tears shall become like a river flowing in a desert;
The ground rejects and the sun claims.
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25 YRS FROM 1979
Independent St. Lucia
Up until 79, t’was I confined.
I was in my mother’s womb and my will was thine.
Mine choice, mine voice; I hid
Even whilst I nurtured my seed.
Equipped was I to stand high
Tall in my mother’s eyes.
Pruned me she did
Yea chronic perseverance succeed.
My young too I armoured, waging war for freedom.
Toiling days draweth the end.
Dawn alas a brighter day.
I stretched mine hands and embraced my young
Oh! Glorious 79.
My sweat rewarded with 25 strong
Life for me shalt be long
Standeth I victorious!
Is my mother proud?
Be it, or be it not, I will commemorate such achievement and franchise with purpose.
Cheers, for yet another year my children
Make me proud.
Yours truly
St. Lucia
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THE GRAVEYARD
Yes
Even I too
Inevitably one day will be through.
To that place
Whence I came
No trace
No frames of fame
Phobia-clustered space.
Back to dirt
Returned to ashes
In an unknown turf
But dear property.
The place I don’t own
But owns me.
Eerie is the feeling
Sound of dirt hitting the coffin
Even that song from the hearse
Slowly fading,
Shading moans and groans.
The thought of that yard
Drowns faculty into a dark realm
Silhouettes death.
Voices death.
Presence of death.
Yes
Even that grave
Though miles away
Is only at my feet
Waiting till I stoop
Or sleep.
Enslaved by reality of the afterlife,
Death quickens
The graveyard lightens,
Opens doors to white and black
Rich and poor.
It respects no one.
Invitation extended in abundance
We have but one chance, to life
To existence.
The yard
That graveyard
The port of embarkation for two different destinations
But one eternity.
The grave
Claims none, but flesh
Nothing more
Nothing less
Just flesh;
Giving up the soul.
Yes
Even I too
And you!
Already have an appointment.
Keep your eyes open
For the graveyard.
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WHAT I WOULD AND WOULDN'T DO
Listen for a while.
I’m being honest.
Life is all about honesty
And integrity so it’s pointless I lie to you.
This is what I will and will not do.
I won’t do everything for you.
If I say I’ll do anything for you, I’ll be lying.
Let’s face it, honestly,
There’s just so much a mere mortal can do.
I’m being true.
I’m not gonna get you water from the moon,
It’s too soon, nor feed you with a silver spoon.
There’s no room in my life for such outrageous acts cause I’m cowardly.
Not gonna feed you milk and honey
Won’t strain my brain to construct an excellent sentence
To tell you that I love you
I will only say it once
I gotta restrain from repetition
The condition being that I’m not even going to cross the ocean for you
I’ll die in two seconds.
I ain’t gonna be your strength for I’m too weak.
I can’t be everything you ask me too.
I can only be who I am.
I will not climb the tallest mountain,
Nor get you water from the deepest fountain.
I will not shift unmoveable rocks, or turn back time on nature’s clocks.
I won’t sing to you how I feel cause I can’t,
And even if I could, it’s enough for me to tell you up front.
I won’t spend hours on the telephone
Or come visit you daily at home.
I can soar to new heights
But won’t do it for you, especially if I’m being tested.
However, I got no wings
And that has made flying impossible.
If I said that I’ll be as romantic as you want me to,
That too would be a lie
Because I can only do so much to please a woman.
I can’t take you to the chicest restaurant/ hotel for valentines.
I will get you a rose though
And if it’s not natural,
You shouldn’t be angry cause
I may not know where to find one.
I can’t be different from other guys
For after all
I’m still a guy.
I will not send chocolates and flowers when you least expect.
I hate surprises too.
If I don’t know how to kiss
Please don’t blame me;
I did not have enough practice.
And if I can’t change according to your demands
Understand that,
I’m only one man.
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JUST A MINUTE
Just a minute I tell you
Was Ma here wit me
But death decided to take her
Just a minute dem
Was I a baby suckling on her milk
Da while in which Pa die.
De clock eh even turn 60 seconds yet
An me best friend dan gone
Gwan to de place I hear about in church.
Which one?
I eh even know!
Jus a minute I say
A boy I be, running wit me pants in me hand
Now wit de tick of de clock
I is a big man wit me belt strapped tight.
Just a minute gwan
An I remember me brodas an sistas gone wit death too
Leave me ah-lone to moan.
Just a minute now
Fe de lil bwoy come chop off de bad man in de ghetto dem
An de police come 2 minutes-ee.
Just a minute
I am left now alone
On my own
My hair grey, my support a third leg,
For death is come
But this minute.
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THIS SIDE UP
This is the side labelled,
Read from it.
This is what it says,
Don’t do the contrary.
This was the side
And this is the inside.
Where is the man that once stood?
Where is the child who once felt?
Where is the heart that could have been broken?
Where are those legs that stood unshaken?
Where is that tear that I once saw?
Why can’t I see a smile just once more?
Where are your tears?
Where oh where have they gone?
Who is this one?
Where have all your compassion gone?
Where are you?
Is there left any glimmer of affection in that body?
Where is the care that I once knew?
Can your eyes still see? Or even, can those ears hear at all?
Have they gone death?
Where is the one?
This side!
Is it you? |