Poetry

POEM OF THE WEEK

Heroes

We need some heroes

Fa we tyad an vex an broken-hearted

Our tropical paradise long departed

Tun rudderless ship a sail inna tsunami

Need some heroes fi steer di vessel an calm we

Fa some a we a jump overboard while we can

An freestyle wi way to safe an dry land

We need powerful leaders

Too many bottom feeders

Parasites and predators

Among ministers and senators

Fa we reach rock bottom an cyaa go no lower

Feel like grass under mower

For as we see likkle sun

We get cut dung

By corruption an greed

As di craven feed

An tell us to do widout

While dem stuff fi dem mout

An we tek di crumbs dem lef fi us

Afta dem nyam til dem belly waan bus

Yes

We need some heroes

Heroes who will bare dem chest

An nuh fraid fi tek lick inna dem lef breast

Champions of veracity

Not pathological mendacity

Who will separate from di crowd

An talk di tings loud

An figet bout party an orange an green

Cause di two a dem a di same ting, naa mean?

Figet bout rituals an tradition

An nuh fraid fi go gainst party position

An fight fi what dem know is right

An stop try fi hold on to dem status tight

An put our needs before theirs

As dem manage our affairs

Cause hero know what name sacrifice

An some people will tink seh dem nuh nice

But fi di greater good of di land

Dem will tek a stand

An put aside personal gain

An share some a wi pain

Yes

We need some heroes

Heroes fi stan up fi wi yute

Cause to tell yu di truth

Dem in a bad way

An dem lost

Dem need direction

Guidance an protection

An dis must be done

At all costs

Cause from dem pon breast an from dem a toddler

Dem see few good role model but whole heap a modeller

Roughneck, skettel an wutliss sample

Inna di public eye a set bad example

Dishonest an weak leaders who sit pon di fence

An bruk rules an laws wid no consequence

As those wid integrity in positions of authority

Now appear to be fading into di minority

While kids cry fi absent fathers an mothers weh care

Less bout dem pickney an more bout false hair

We need heroes fi wi yute fi emulate

Before it's too late

An dem grow up an perpetuate

Dis failing state

Dis cycle of hostility

Mediocrity an negativity

Cause wi downward spiral

Is like a video gone viral

Out of control

As we approach di black hole

Yes

We need some heroes

We need some heroes

We need some heroes

- Michael Abrahams

Express yourself!

Send your poems to editorial@gleanerjm.com.

Not all poems will be published.