Partings II: Mimosa Pudica
by Andrene Bonner

Since you left my love
I close like shame-mi-lady
Autumn secrets hide.

Elegy Mikey Smith - Me Cyaan Believe it
by William Edwin Virtue

Me cyaan believe it - me one lyrical atypical Caribbean son,
Garvey birthday a fi you doomsday, what a loss, you step already!
Voice cut off over politricks, over nothing, cause nothing ever change,
But you was a go change things perhaps, you was a change the world to rock steady.
Young but large a foreign, London, Cuba, Paris, Milan, only twenty nine me cyaan believe it you step already.

Me cyaan believe another innocent senseless illustrious victim a Garrison politicks
Wha mek you trouble culture whe stush on the campaign trail,
Your thing a nuh politricks but youth poverty hard as rock,
You, who was never a dollar-a day dread but a genuine Rasta
Dead from a hit pon you head me cyaan believe it you step already.

But you nuh really dead, we all member you, the words alive,
The spirit of you passionate renderings alive, you dub poetry will never die,
The truth you write alive, you political insights alive
With Mutabaruka and Kwesi young Rasta lions all together,
‘Lawd God Almighty in heaven whe you be - but me cyaan believe it you step already.

Haiku for Mikey Smith
By Andrene Bonner

Dis dub nah go done
Till di stone is brought to trial
Dat kill di dub poet.

This memoried moment is for you my dear friend and
fellow thespian; erudite man, filled with love, and compassion.
Your laughter filled any space you occupied; the quintessential
"spiritlifter." Today, your vibrations move me; this sun dance is for you.

A Herding Over the Cockpit
By Andrene Bonner

Must tend the goats o’er pastoral  
To limericks that humor,
Drowning miserable screams;

Screams senses that echo such  
Racing thoughts of oppressive
Nation peoples big and small.

Small as the wicked worms
That devastate the scallions
Waste the lemons and the mint;

Mint so soothing on nights
When calls of lowland jungle frogs  
Own the very arrival of the muse.

Muse besieged from being heard
Dictates this sentimental mise en page
Tis reckless to pen this stifled susurrus.

Must tend the goats o’er pastoral  
With limericks and blank verses
Verses of this heroic derring-do;
DoDo Darling; I still love you.

Ávila de las Montañas Azules
By Andrene Bonner

Mujer Negra
Feroz como el león
Fuerte como las Montañas Azules.

Ella camina en silencio entre las nubes
Misteriosa como el viento
Todavía—su política—es profunda
Su ética—es concreta
Su pasión—es real.

Mujer Negra
Feroz como el león
Fuerte como las Montañas Azules.

Ella lucha por la justicia social
 y la libertad para los marginados
 Da comida a los pobres
 y cuida  los ancianos.

Mujer Negra
Feroz como el león
Fuerte como las Montañas Azules.

Ella es leal al país, a pesar de su complejidad
Sin embargo, ella exige contabilidad 
y justicia de su gobierno
Guardando la cultura a toda costa.

Mujer Negra
Feroz como el león
Fuerte como las Montañas Azules.

Con todo mi corazón
Aprecio tu amistad
Con todo mi corazón
Aprecio tu amor por la humanidad
Con todo mi corazón
Te aprecio mi camarada—Ávila.

Partings
by Andrene Bonner


Caribbean Sea
Part we lips when night time come
May our sleep be sweet

Morning Musings
by Andrene Bonner

Wicked red-headed rooster
Conspiring to wake me
From this blissful daybreak
Of pure forbidden love.

Go to yonder meddlesome
Wake you that conscience
Dulled by its belligerence
Prolong this idyllic morn.

Why this spiteful awakening
Of lovers who have yearned
For quiet contemplation
Among these speckled violets
 
That give these Blue Mountains
Their fragrance sweet when
Trade winds rukumbine a wicked
Rubadub among the dactylon and buttercups.   

Your crowing hurts the ears
Where soft kisses linger
And warm bodies still afire
From natures melodious Euphonia.

Leave us o cruel yard bird
Find you another coop
Where hens await your mating
And I courtly love embrace.

 

Momentito
by Andrene Bonner

Walked pass Jasmines
 Fragrance of your soft hair
 Gone with the wind.

For You
By Andrene Bonner