An urban child waits
Enough in my mother's womb
A brain now built
For the world's adventure
As I twisted and turned
Almost too humorous to bear
Waiting patiently for the moment
At last, my mother felt the excruciating pain
And I anticipated what the world would be like
After moments of pain and fear
I gave a loud cry
Joy and laughter rippled through the room
From mother, nanny and family members
Finally arrived from reflection
Of womb's tranquility
Now on earth's face
The flower embraced with love
Violet is the name.
- Violet Graham
__________________________
Mystery
Far down in life is like stabbing me with a knife
Not physically, mentally or spiritually
But technically
Strange things happen frequently through vivid open doors
Open your eyes, ears and do less talking
Take a peek in the sky and keep on walking
Pitfalls are ahead in the atmosphere
Keep your feet on the ground and never fear
Life may be once, twice or forever
You made my life twice which lasts forever
We both pleaded aloud, live and never die
I open my eyes, looked around it's obvious that I'm home, but was this a dream?
A mystery for me to solve, my love.
- Lorine Minott
____________________________
Father Abraham
Abraham Johnson is a father of wonder
Father Abraham, his children call him
In his weakness he did show strength
His neighbours noticed that he cared
And called him Father Abraham
Father of fathers, he is a father
Yeah, Father Abraham is a father
Father of five children
By two unmarried mothers
But from them he was never absent
Though Father Abraham left their mother
He was always present
For he loved his children
He still loved their unmarried mothers
That man, Father Abraham
Yeah, Father Abraham is a father
Father Abraham earned pennies
But his children never went hungry
He gave them almost every dime
Every child must have a good lunch
Not dining on water and bullas
Though water and bullas he ate almost daily
But Father Abraham never was tempted
To abandon he never attempted
Father Abraham was a wonder
He earned only pennies
He wept and prayed through the night
But his children always shouted
Here comes Father Abraham
He is coming from his work
Father Abraham earned pennies
How he stretched them was a wonder
But every child had shelter
Covered by his devotion and love
Yeah, Father Abraham was a father
He had an old pair of shoes
But every child was newly booted
For in education they must be rooted
So said good Father Abraham.
- Oren Cousins
______________________
For a better world
I long for a world
That is devoid
Of hatred
Malice and discrimination
I long for a world
That has no segregation
No marginalization
I long for a world
Where all people live in true love
Yes, live in true love
Which comes from above
Like a dove
Permeating black people's hearts
White people's hearts
I long for a world
Without ethnic cleansing
A world
Without political and religious uprising
I long, I long and long for that world!
- Ugochukwu Durueke
_____________________
For Michael Jackson
Yu see how death stay?
It soften heart fi choo
In life yu bad and wicked
In death yu good and true
It no matter if yu a Nazi
It no matter if yu a Jew
Sometimes it's only when you're dead
That people see the good in you
Stop, put on your glove
And stand up on your toes
Glide across the stage
Strike a pose
Have the whole world say
They've never seen moves like those
Then white doves fall to their death
In the middle of the road
It's a Black Thursday
People are weeping in the road
The critics are hushed
Sharp tongues cease their prose
All the disc jockeys play your songs
On the radio
And all who had bad things to say
Are too entranced by death's repose
Yu see how death stay?
It soften heart fi choo
In life yu 'bad' and wicked
In death yu good and true
It no matter if yu 'Black or White'
Yellow, red or blue
Sometimes it's only when you're dead
That people see the good in you
Hush, 'Gone too soon' we sing
The whole world acknowledges
The passing of a king
But Michael Joseph Jackson
Even as we cry
We know your soul will live on
For legends never die.
- Lisa Gaye Taylor