2016

Heal             –     by Steve Reid

Who made you so self-righteous?

What made you so aloft?

Is it your meagre success? It is meagre for your lack of imagination.

Is it your despair? You never started that way.

Where is your pride and honour? Beaten away?

Were you “born big”? What of your mother and father? And theirs… forever?

Well not me!

My ancestors are with me, in me, are me.

We live to be free.

Look at the down-pressors’ riches! You should be ashamed. Liars, thieves, murderers… my God!

You say no to reparatory justice…?

Closed minded fool in your comfort zone.

Heal you must.

Up you mighty people!

I can’t sleep – by Steve Reid

Where am I going? My feet are blistered.

Night time walking.

Oh the smell of filth, death.

Weeping, howling, shouting, silence…

Heavy chains, dragging, words I know not, people I can’t comprehend.

Now the rocking, churning, excrement.

Where am I going? I want my family.

Is this a punishment? I want to fight!

What of my children? Will I? How can I?

Death all around. I will not grow old.

To see Jah sun again. Am I now to lose my mind?

Where am I? Can I heal? When? Where are my calming memories?

Will I be forgotten? My eyes are wide open. Alive? Walking dead!

Forward ever… never backwards. I hate it!

Take me home!

I can’t sleep.