Where is your Give in the Forgive
...Andrene Bonner
...Andrene Bonner
Nanny Wept by Andrene Bonner Next morning, I woke up to the crowing of a noisy akokכ. Some Bantu sounding women were fanning red peas they were laying out to dry on the porch around the water tank. The purple mountains looked so at peace with the sky but I ached from the long journey. I ached from the pain in my belly. I ached from not knowing what my life would be like in this land. I ached because I did not smell Ma Esi making morning kכ fe with fish and fresh baked bread, and calling out to me – 'Come my Nana—kכ fe is ready.’ I ached because I did not hear my papa whisling for me to come with him to shoot birds for lunch time soup. I ached because my brothers were not loading the donkey with כde and akye-fufu and laughing loud about pretty girls they hope to meet at the market. I ached because my junior cousins were not screaming and playing. I ached because I could not enjoy the clouds that spun circles around the belly of the sun or the fresh air that felt like a Kumasi morning in the spring. I ached. I ached. I ached. I cried. One hundred and one; Today we celebrate you, Pops Egbert our dad. (March 31, 1911 - April 24, 1972) Today, I will be doing a private reading of my latest work, "Blue Mountain Queen: A Story of Nanny of the Jamaican Maroons." It has been quite a journey with the sage. I came out of my mother’s womb fighting—fighting to rid the spider webs from across my face. They say that when you are born with webs over your face you possess special powers. My great grandmother, Yaa said that my mother slept for nearly a month because she was so tired from birthing me. She said—this child must have the spirit of ten men. My papa says I am a child with Akan fighting blood in me. (Excerpt from my latest work, "Blue Mountain Queen." For Release 2012) "If the Negro is inferior why circumvent him; why suppress his talent and initiative; why rob him of his independent gift; why fool him out of his rights of his country; why imprison his intelligence; why keep him down with the law of equality?" ---The Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey No More Smalling Up Of Me Jean Wilson No more meekly saying 'yes' When my heart is screaming 'no' No more taming of my feelings So my power won't show No more hiding my exuberance From disapproving eyes No more watering down myself So my spirit won't rise No more 'smalling up' of me Pretending I am not here No more running from the music And the spotlight's glare No more living in this prison Barricaded by my fears No more turning and retreating In the face of new frontiers Even as I am speaking I am taking shape and form Harnessing my powers Like a gathering storm There's no obstacle so bold As to dare stand in my way I am taking back my life And I am doing it today. Jean Wilson is one of my favorite Jamaican writers. "No More Smalling Up of Me" is the title poem of her poetry book. Mother Tongue on Fire By Andrene Bonner The language of her pain is dark and dreary like a deep unfathomed sea; but the language of her soul asserts that His redeeming love makes her want to sing until the fullness of her time is realized in this earth flesh. Talking These Trade Winds By Andrene Bonner What of the wind tonight Weeping these Blue Mountains Tree branches conspire Birds need find new rest. What of the wind tonight The haunting dessert whistles Like songbirds in distress Dogs howl and children hide. What of the wind tonight Three days uprooted crops Blew away helpless fronds Raise frocks high as acacia tree. What of the wind tonight Make forest fires cruel burn Like hot desires atop lovers leap Now desolate of passion’s flames. What of the wind tonight Fierce like man strong enough To contemplate prison doors open For poor man’s freedom come. What of the wind tonight Ancestral duppies like feral horses Demand a proper burial Raucous like thunder rolling. What of the wind tonight Echoing drums of Asante warriors Beating down the oppressors From Accompong to Nanny Town. What of the wind tonight Resonates the lip service of Propaganda politricking as if To better educate the masses. What of the wind tonight These talking trade winds that Speak of time on this here island Seem as if it’s going to rain. |