AMERICAN -JAMAICAN ANTHOLOGY OF ORIGINAL POEMS
By John WordSliinger and Oren Cousins
INTRODUCTION
John E.O’Hara, an American, and Oren Cousins, a Jamaican, were inspired and impelled by their Muses to select and to compile some of their poems in a combined American-Jamaican Anthology of Original Poetry. We are happy to share this Anthology with you and across the world. These two poets have never met face to face, separated as they are by miles of ocean and endless sky. They met through a website known as Original Poetry, and became friends with kindred spirit through some inexplicable energy that is common to the poetry of both, although their creations are distinctly miles apart in theme, concept, rhyme and measure.
We hope that you will not restrain yourself to read only the American poems in this Anthology, and thereby deprive yourself, because you are American, nor will you restrain yourself to read only the Jamaican poems, and thereby deprive yourself, because you are Jamaican. Bear in mind that a poet is a universal disciple. He /she traverses the whole world, from pole to pole, and washes up on every shore like the five oceans. The poet is the only being that is empowered to transport himself/ herself, and you as well. to regions of land, sea and sky not yet discovered in our own time. Therefore poetry is universal and possesses the power to cross all boundaries of time, space, race, colour and culture.
May satisfaction and blessings attend your mind as you read these poems. All living creatures are poets, but some are more poets than some, having been endowed with the desire and the inspired impulse to weave words into simple or intricate patterns of the five senses , and to write, sing and share. If you do not think that you are a poet, read these poems just the same and enjoy them. In time, you may discover that you are a better poet than John WordSlinger or Oren Cousins.
CONTENTS
SECTION A, Poems Of Being and Dreaming,
Number Title Poet Page
1. My Wondrous Blessing W, S, 1
2. A Poet InThe Making O.C. 2
3. Moon Appalachia W.S,. 3
3. RockinGThe Boat. O.C. 5
5. Diamond Boy W.S. 6
6. Cosmic Syncrony W.S. 8
7. Boot O.C. 9
8. Poets’ Dawn W.S. 11
9. To All Lovers Of Poetry O.C. 13
________________________________________________________
SECTION B, Christmas Poems
10. Merry Christmas Mr. and
Mrs. Hampton. W.S. 15
11. Of AllThe Blooms O.C. 17
12. The Greatest Story NeverTold W.S. 19
13.. Vallad A Capella OC. 21
14. Turn On The Christmas Lights W.S. 23
15. Christmas Junkunu O.C 24
____________________________________________________________________
SECTION C, Poems Of Delight for Children,
16. Snowball And Einstein W.S. 28
17. Soldier Crab O.C. 30
18. The Nine Lives Of Kitty Cat O.C 32
19. Black Swans Awn Pink Lawns W.S. 33
20. Little Child O.C, 34
21. Shadow Fun W.S. 36
22. Greedy Silly Little Dog O.C. 38
23. Fruit Of Heritage W.S. 39
24. Mama Short Legs W.S.. 40
25. My Dear Spiderlings W.S. 42
26 The Goblins Wars W.S. 43 .
27. Hippopotamus O.C. 45
28. Seymour The Sea Chicken W.S. 50
___________________________________________________________________
SECTION D, Irony For Adults,
29 Who Wants To Be A Football W.S. 52
30. Riding On The Merri-go-round O.C. 55
31. Twynklin Twangs W.S, 58
32. Twinkling Things W.S. 59
33. Shot Gun Wedding O.C. 60
34. Leroy,Get Me The Chainsaw W.S. 63
35. Dogs Barking O.C. 65
36. Thwacked Twyla W.C. 68
37 Finger InThe Ink O.C. 70
38. Hands Of Time O.C. 71
39. The Wall Of Jerico O.C 73
SECTION E, Halloween
40. Bumper Caskets W.S. 75
41. Grip Of Darkness W.S. 77
42. Orange And Black Holiday W.S. 78
43. Jack O’Lantern Jr. W.S. 79
44. Witch Craft W.S. 80
45. Call Of The Werewolf W.S. 81
_________________________________________________________________
SECTION F, Narrative Poems To Entertain To Inform and To Contemplate.
46. Haliette And Zabracazebra W.S. 83
47. Puppets ( Part One, Two,Three,Four) O.C 95
48. Ballad Of Redemption Song OC 99 . 49. Puppets (Part Five - Part 12) O.C. 101
50. Daniel Was A Don O.C. 113
51. The Gambler O.C. 117
52. The Capture And Escape Of Boa O.C. 119
________________________________________________________________
SECTION G, Poems of Nature and Environment
53. Earth W.S. 123
54, To Fell A Tree O.C 124
55. Elizabeth Talk To Trees W.S.. 126
56. The Voice Of Solitude O.C. 127
57. Return To The Forest W,S. 128
58. Loud Sounds O.C. 129
59. She Couldn’t Give Up The World W.S.. 132
60. Cruise Ship O.C. 133
61. Falling Into Autumn W.S. 135
62. Niagara Falls O.C. 136
63. O Little Leaves W.S. 137
64. Mango Time O.C. 138
65. Torn Together W.S 143
66. It’s All So Beautiful When Untouched W.S. 144
67. Linstead OC 146
________________________________________________________________
SECTION H, Poems of Religious and Philosophical Thought,
68. To The Supreme Court; God Revealed W.S. 148
69. The Supreme O.C. 149
70. Burning Passion W.S. 151
71. An Atom Of Infinity O.C. 152
72. Church Hoppin’ W.S. 153
73. The First Day Of Rain W,S. 154
74. TizzyDancing O.C. 155
75. Question W.S. 158
76. In Sighting W.S.. 159
77. Old Tree Of Worry W.S. 160
78. Hope O.C. 161
79. Dirty Lives W.S. 162
80. Marcus Mosiah Garvey O.C. 164
81. Everywhere With The Beast W.S. 166
82. Great Ship Of Salvation W.S. 168
83. Lord, Be My Prayer W.S. 170
84 For Goodness Sake O.C. 171
____________________________________________________________
SECTION I, Poems From Biblical Stories
85. Saga Of The First Ship Builder O.C. 173
86. Goliath O.C. 176
87. Ruth O.C. 179
_______________________________________________________________
SECTION J, Poems of Love and Adoration : Medley,
88. Fallen Key Of An Angel W.S. 181
89 Miss Lou O.C. 183
90.. Gems W.S. 186
91. To Mindee W.S. 188
92. Tribute To Jamaican Women O.C. 190
93. Seattle Woman W.S. 192
94. These Days, These Years W.S. 194
95 Whispering Meadows W.S. 196
96. To Be With You W.S. 198
97. The Meeting And The Parting O.C 200
98. Ramblings Of A Poet’s Harem W.S. 201
99. Days In Her Illumination W.S. 204
100. Love’s Capsule W.S. 210
______________________________________________________________
SECTION K, Poems of Conquest, New World, Caribbean History,
101. Guanahani O.C, 212
102. San Salvador O.C. 213
103. Isabella O.C. 214
104 Chief Guatiguani O.C. 217
105. Hispaniola O.C. 219
106 Ovando O.C. 223
107. Columbus O.C. 226
108. Montezuma O.C. 228
109. Sir Thomas Drake O.C. 230
110. America 1513 O.C. 233
111. America 1518 O,C, 234
112. De Las Casas O.C. 238
_______________________________________________________________
Section L, Pepperpot Medley: Poems Of Themes, Moods And Measures,
113. Hidden Dragons W.S.. 244
114 Jerked Chicken O.C. 246
115. ButThen She Danced W.S. 248
116. The New Year O.C. 250
117. Sexual Kung Fu W.S.. 253
118. Cellular Offerings To A Village Girl O.C. 255
119. Spell Me W.S. 259
120. Winding Road O.C. 260
121. Fallen Star: American Car W.S. 262
122. Dogs Barking O.C. 264
124. Passion Fruits O,C. 267
125. Demonic Ambush W.S. 269
126. The Killings O.C. 270
127. Lullabies Of Divinity W.S. 274
128. Paradise O.C. 275
129. Soil And Method Of Wading W.S. 277
130 Call Out Forever, Befor Forever Calla W.S. 278
131. A Southern Kentucky Home W.S. 280
132 Just To Be Poor Again O.C. 282
133. Opposing Comparison W.S 284 134, Curried Goat O.C. 286 135 The Destruction Of Port Royal O.C. 287
136 The Offerings Of Poets O.C. 288 137. When The Laugh Cried, And The
Cry Laughed W.S. 288
Section A, Poems Of Being And Dreaming, ,
My Wondrous Blessing
I've been told
I give life to matters of dull
I walk in faith
I live life, I, the observer in full
I am manifesting, soul thrust.
My poems, story to story
My poems, glory to glory
I do it for myself, I must
I also love to do it for us
Thence forward I go
Now you see clearly
my poetic soul
The gift, carpentry of words
Year by year, my poems become herds
Words tease me
Poems please me
The experiences eases me
See my foundation of trust
There resting on it is-
My Pathedhral of Poetic just. (by W.S.)
Poets In The Making
You may have had jerked chicken,
Curried goat is finger
lickin' ;
Pretty good is your mix ,
Surely the verses really
tick,
Certainly you know the trick.
The lines they
sometimes rhyme,
You must have tasted sugar and lime
With a
finger of Jamaican rum:
See the rhythm runs tum-titi-tum,
For
we are poets in the making.
(By O.C.)
Moonpalachia
A Poema is
Moonpalachia
Hazzah, Hazzah, Moonpalachia!
The taste of poetry is refreshing,
Reading poetry is replenishing,
We are a living poem,
A breathing masterpiece,
The purposes in
life we be.
There’s enough for me and you all,
Take as much as you need, don’t matter,
It’s Humungous Among us,
Just don’t let it splatter.
As we sit near the fire of poetry,
It shall keep us warm as always.
The children of the future will read,
And we shall be wept for plays.
We have a unique purpose and place,
A love into action of practical ways,
A line of word is a day after a day,
Every one of us is a stanza.
In the greatest poem-life,
The taste of the spirit is Moonpalachia,
Rejoicing the after-life.
Hazzah, Hazzah,
Moonpalachia!
(By W.C.)
Rocking The Boat
Welcome! Welcome aboard,
Though the wind is very
strong.
And the billows are rolling high.
Though there be no
light in the sky.
We aren't sinking.
The boat is only
rocking,
We are still safe and sound
Unless we founder
Or
sadly run aground.
Keep your birth suit on
To jump
into the water,
Just in case
You need to go
swimming,
And there is no shore in sight.
(By O.C.)
Diamond Boy
As a cool current I smiled through the sky,
You are a cute boy, the hot girls said of I.
They all wanted to flow with me on the air
Whirling around, flirting to become a pair.
The elder clouds gave me advice for aim,
‘Choice of a thunderstorm or hurricane.’
I could be massive, and do it alone
Point be noticed, and be heard with a tone.
I have seen the spark, and started my lightning,
‘We shall call you Diamond Boy, delighting.’
I found the secret, and became its trait,
Moral excellence is my priceless fate.
I felt life was full of constant pressure
My strength was joy in hope, my fond treasure.
My words, spread as ice, valuable and rare,
As they fell with dreams, dropped deeply with care.
They melted to tear like, water poems,
soft formed, pools of devotional totems.
I was only a warm wonder shower,
and held back my tornado of power.
I fell in love with her, the fruitful earth
She was happy I’ve given farmers’ worth.
She said, I was song, real, her sexy storm,
‘We are blessed, Diamond Boy that you were born’
I was heard, seen, and dreamt in the vast skies
When the birds choral, they sing my goodbyes.
A storm
has heavy burdens to sustain,
They go through life
separating the grain.
My character produces hope, my
rain
I had a choice, so Diamond Boy's my name.
(By W.S.)
Cosmic Syncrony
The lunarous
signs
that are built in our eyes,
and
the sky as it shines
is the map of our
mind
All comes to him
who hustles while he waits
A man must move on to
experience his fate
Wisdom is knowing when to speak
It can be a
struggle thinking of things
Nothing is good or bad
Thinking
makes it so a holographic
Picture of
the body and the soul
The jest behind the gesture is
one
that's well worthy laughing
If there is an answer its well worth
asking
Its a universal rehearsal,
a rehearsal reversal
It's a fictional
fact, trancendal meditation
The meaning of life and
death
The
imagination
The social vision
Why
do we dream?
The soul is a rainbow
The
eyes are the window and
Time is a two way street.
(By W.S.)
Boot
Boot, we have weather'd many a storm,
You, with your worn-out
sole
And your silent tongue of leather,
I, with a wondering
mind,
Walking with you tiredly,'
Seeking for my heart's desire,
While you nursing my shambling feet,'
Urged me on my soul to
keep
In this mortal immoral world of lies.
Though we
have seen little of the world,
And we have walked,
Flown and
sailed many miles,
There are still too many unmarked tracks,
Vague
charts, obstacles and maps,
The world is big high and
wide;
Trapped like flies in a bottle,
We can only climb the
side
Only to fall to the bottom again.
We are ephemeral ! Is
that the end?
Is your wrinkled upper
And your thin sole the
sign
That we are merely passing through?
You are patent
and kind.
Though I have kicked you to many balls,
You have
never complained.
When I bruised your heel against a wall
Or
stubbed you against a stone
Or wantonly worn you with lace
untied,
You accepted the knocks of daily grind.
While I pursue
butterflies
Or seek new pleasures or engage in strife.
Boot, you have been resilient and resolute.
To me past life's
sentiments
Are like present condiments
Only for seasons called
to mind;
Do you remember, can you react
To reminiscences?
Let
there be a smile on your upper;
Do I detect a smile or a tear?
Is
it madness that which I share with you,
Devoid of common
sense,
Our inability to fathom the dark beyond,
Only to trudge
along blindly mute
Until worn out we are cast aside?
Such is cynicism!
Fortunately, you are never called
To
have faith, My Old Friend,
With your worn-out sole resting in
peace;
Man is not so blest to rest forever,
But is promised
eternal sleeplessness,
If he behaves himself.
( By O.C.)
Poets’ Dawn
On this warm November morning
I will take you to regions of giving
I have named these places Poets’ Dawn
Enchanting you with sketches drawn.
You shall love these landscapes;
Come my passion lets leave our capes
Sown all fondness, these places beyond
I call this massive puddle Poe’s Pond.
Do you believe word miracles heal?
I summons this meadow Dickinson Field;
All these places spiritually fulfill,
Feel the global wings of Keats’s Hill.
The powerful word shall and not if
Holding you away from Beddoe’s Cliff;
This here is a stone less treasure land,
Grab a handful of Gibran’s Sand.
I love all of these, far and away
Lets take a look into Blake’s Cave;
Look, animals are near the shimmer
A glimpse of the rapid Kipling’s River.
Escaping are these enigma banyans
Neat is the Nostradamus Canyon;
There are many flourishing groves
One’s a must, in Dicken’s Cove.
Over there are the King David Mountains
All of them are sweet, are you countin’?
Looks like cozy rain on the aerie-
over there near the Teasdale Prairie.
My cherished is angelic, not man made
A beauty so rare is Madelynn's Lake
Drawing attention to all so stood
Off in the back is Words linger Wood.
And there the ample air is very deep
Preserving the soul for you and me;
Giving is the roots, nurturing above
The woods where words linger love.
(By W.S.)
To All Lovers Of Poetry
Like the magic carpet of story-books,
Poetry transports you
from cosy nook
To lands afar and foreign friends,
To scenes of
adventure and romance,
Or to the open road of countryside
In
the jolly springtime of verdant days.
Come read with me for
such delights of bards
Or write to the singing of your mystic
Muse;
Our hearts' enjoyment is but to love
Our companions in
phantasm’s flight
Or back to earth to bewail the verse
That
drives our destiny to the grave
Or sings of romance and heroic
deeds.
Of man,. woman , child , bird and bees,
Rivers,
mountains, meadows and fruited trees.
If you adventure seek in
line and rhyme,
Poetry is an argosy of pain
And music sweet to
body and mind.
Poets are true adventurers remote;
Their minds
leap beyond the dull bounds of earth
To worlds that words alone
cannot express.
All human are poets by birth bestowed
To work, sing, dance to
the rhythm of time.
But few are invested to listen to the
heart
That speaks to feelings to others to impart
That beauty
of every kind, jewels of thought
To awaken, to mirror, to inflame
or salve
The wounds and drudg'ry of reality.
Come, you lovers of words and verse inspired,
Listen, tune
your ears to the messages
Of a sad wind forlorn among the reeds.
Do you hear the music of the moon horn,
As lunar maids dance
on a moonlit pool
To the jocund pipe of the goat hooved Pan?
Poets
have been there before you to chant
The unfolding of what few
mortal scan,
To much and many men were unperceived.
That which
is poetry, your heritage.
Read on , enchanted ,
intoxicated,
Mesmerised, anger'd, moved to tears.
Build you an
iv'ry tower free from cares
To the soft strumming of your heart's
banjo,
Sometimes sour, most times but very sweet.
( By O.C.)
Section B, Christmas Poems,
Merry Christmas Mr. & Mrs. Hampton
Now that we have seen many Christmas’
Now that we have heard many Carols
Now that we have opened many Gifts
How do we write new cheerful Heralds?
With the smell of Madelynn’s baking cookies,
and the children, finally helping, with the dishes
Let’s have a cup of cocoa, and talk about poetry
Poetry for the season, reasons for all life’s wishes
Remember, the feelings, when Santa first gave us cheer,
and how curious, in awe, we became of his reindeer;
The so-many ways of decorating the tree each year;
The sweet times of reminiscing of family in revere?
Madelynn Dear, please turn on the holiday tunes
Let us tell you what we went shopping for in June
Things homemade, gifts for the homeless, oh so attune
With faith all through the year, blessings fell in opportune.
The gift of a warm made quilt is a little fire
A pocketful of verse in a little chap to inspire
Simple things to cuddle up to before they retire
We thought we would create moments, we the supplier-
to living poems, and rescue the spirit they once attired.
We were so happy to see the smiles on their face
With no strings attached, that’s the gift of grace
From the depths of our love, to the ones misplaced
We gave them the Spirit of Christmas to embrace.
So, our new humorous poet friends
Christmas stories stir us restless, getting-
family and friends on the guest list
And with these modern days of netting
We so dearly wish you the spirit in expansion
Merry Christmas Mr. & Mrs. Hampton.
(By W.C.)
Of All The Blooms
Of all the blooms at Christmas tide,
We love the Flame Heart most;
Great blobs of red Poinsettia
Pay tribute to a merry
host,
Commingled with the snowy euphorbia,
Herald the month of December ,
Whispering tales of virgin birth,
Bringing gifts and mirth beside,
Lest we forget to remember ,
Renew love’s message on the earth.
Great splashes of Poinsettia
Color the plains of Liguanea,
Bloom below the Wareika hills,
Nestle by many rural rills;
Bright, bright the sign of gaiety
Blazes from the joyful gleaming
Of people in the Yuletide streaming.
Myriad are the city pepper lights
Shining from the giant Christmas tree
In vain with the stars competing
Celebrating from the ornate sky;
But the red, red Poinsettia
Silently whispers an ancient tale
Of angels singing from celestial veil
A song of glory to God on high,
On the eve of Christmas dawning.
Red, red the Flame Heart, red Poinsettia,
Six months red and six months green,
Commingled with the white euphobia,
Contrasting in their blended unity.
Of all the blooms of December,
The one we love to favor,
The red, red blooms so bold
With their touches of gold,
Relating the immaculate birth
That Incarnate Peace once came to earth. (By O.C.)
The Greatest Story Untold (Trio of Life)
Long ago, through the Desire of Ages
Gaspar, Balthazar, and Melchior-
kept a secret from times’ pages
With no known performed miracles,
note their faith
The philosophers of the realm did smirch
The clearer transcript of truth
In their dreams they did search-
the new seed of love
The Jacob Star, the time prophecy of Daniel
The luminous western heavens was all above-
The guiding star appeared in the sky,
like a fiery circus animal
And led them to the road, breaking down,
deep into the valley,
occupying the fruitful summit of the Judean Mountains
Celestial phenomena was predicting the fountain
The fountain of life of all humanity,
an expectation world wide
The coming of a great, supernaturally begotten Prophet high
The one who has already invested,
invested in all of life
As they came to the house of bread,
they heard the babe cry.
They looked at each other, and asked, How-
How is your faith now?
They had seen the greatest of Kings
Falling to their knees they gave gifts of things,
frankincense, mirth, and gold
They kept what they have seen to themselves
They departed with the Greatest Story Untold
They did not return to where the envious King dwelt
Now, we have the choice of everlasting life to behold.
(By W.S,)
Ballad A Capella ( A Christmas Song))
Soprano alto tenor bass,
Thus four together blended,
When men their angelic voices raise,
By angels silently attended.,
Need no organ symphonious,
Need no orchestra.
Oh Holy Night they sing,
Sweetly sing a capella;
Oyo-ooh, need no organ symphonious,
Voices need no orchestra,
A capella they sweetly sing
About a Son in manger.
Hear thou the cattle are lowing
In the pastures a lying.
Ooo-oh, the alto tranquil soothing ,
Trumpet violin flute bassoon
From their throats rising,
Need no orchestra.
O Holy Night they sing
Sweetly sing a capella.
Shepherds and sheep woke up that night,
Oooh, the beasts crooned with delight!
Ooooh, Christ in a manger was born,
The blessed son of Mary.
Magi from the east came.
With their gifts to worship the King ,
O Holy Night they sang ,
Sweetly sang a capella.
O, let all voices joyfully sing
Born to us a Saviour;
A capella harmonious wooing,
Our sweet voices blending ;
No organ symphonious
Our voices need no orchestra,
Joyfully we shall sing :
Oooh- ooo! O-hoo- oo--oh!
(By O.C.)
Turn On The Christmas Tree
Inside from the winter mean
with the scent of the evergreen
Holly and apples, natural things
Turn on the Christmas tree.
See its enlightment, its powerfulness
A great electric wonderment
Like those child eyes with fascination
Discovering the joy, embracing,
of winter’s celebration
Ornaments with colorings of life
referring the fullness of grace
Feel its warmth, it’s comforting in place
It’s a part of the Christmas heart
Turn on the Christmas Tree
Home ever more sweetly art.
(By W.C.)
Santa
Claus
By
Kevin Mooney
There
lives this jolly old soul,
People
say lives at the north pole.
He
creates toys,
For
good girls and boys,
Is
revered by those young and old.
Known
for his red suit and sash,
Large
frame, white beard and mustache,
A
big round belly,
That
shakes like jelly,
When
something makes him laugh.
Some
think he's blessed with great wealth,
Has
magical reindeer and elves.
Children
believe,
On
Christmas eve,
He
delivers gifts all by himself.
Traveling
the world in a sled,
He
arrives when kids are in bed.
Slips
into the house,
As
quiet as a mouse,
While
dreams dance around in young heads.
With
a team of 8 tiny reindeer,
He
delivers hope and good cheer,
A
source of delight,
On
one special night,
That
comes the same time every year.
The
perfect lap sitting host,
Who
never gets angry or boasts.
Everyone
knows,
His
ho ho ho's,
A
laugh that distinguishes him most.
The
image of a King well fed,
A
Wiseman all dressed up in red.
A
comical gnome,
With
a snow covered home,
A
character commercially bred.
Whether
he actually exists,
Is
the source of hoax or myth,
To
those that believe,
He's
a pleasant reprieve,
The
perfect Father Christmas.
Santa
Claus
By
Kevin Mooney
There
lives this jolly old soul,
People
say lives at the north pole.
He
creates toys,
For
good girls and boys,
Is
revered by those young and old.
Known
for his red suit and sash,
Large
frame, white beard and mustache,
A
big round belly,
That
shakes like jelly,
When
something makes him laugh.
Some
think he's blessed with great wealth,
Has
magical reindeer and elves.
Children
believe,
On
Christmas eve,
He
delivers gifts all by himself.
Traveling
the world in a sled,
He
arrives when kids are in bed.
Slips
into the house,
As
quiet as a mouse,
While
dreams dance around in young heads.
With
a team of 8 tiny reindeer,
He
delivers hope and good cheer,
A
source of delight,
On
one special night,
That
comes the same time every year.
The
perfect lap sitting host,
Who
never gets angry or boasts.
Everyone
knows,
His
ho ho ho's,
A
laugh that distinguishes him most.
The
image of a King well fed,
A
Wiseman all dressed up in red.
A
comical gnome,
With
a snow covered home,
A
character commercially bred.
Whether
he actually exists,
Is
the source of hoax or myth,
To
those that believe,
He's
a pleasant reprieve,
The
perfect Father Christmas.
Christmas Junkunu
Poem Commentary
Junkunu bands of African origin are formed and roam about Jamaica, to entertain with music and dances, at Christmas. Members of a Junkunu band dressed in costumes usually representing folk characters, for example, Policeman and the Devil ,and a pregnant woman. Adults pretend to be afraid of them, while little children are actually terrified.
Christmas Junkunu
If you forget it’s Christmas,
John Canoe, in Jamaica, will remind you.
Heigh-ho! Heighho! Ho-ho- ho!
Ho-ho! Hiegh-ho ! Heigh-ho! Hey-Nanny-ho!
With squealing bamboo fife and goat-skin drum
Heigh—ho! Rub bah –dub-dub! Drum-drum-drum,
Here comes the junkunu band!
Dancing and cavorting from street-side to street,
Rude little children ,run and hide!
If you were rude, throughout the year.
Under the dark bed run and shiver,
Or in a cupboard or behind a door quietly peep;
The Devil is searching and prodding with his fork
Looking for children who like to sulk or talk,
When told it’s time to go to bed, no more TV;
Or who refuse to eat their vegetables.
Stick out their tongues at others.
Forget to say thank you, and their prayers.,
Good morning to elders, can I help you, please?
There goes a young man running from the Devil!
He has
probably been doing wrong.
But what say you of that laughing damsel.
Who is clinging to the back of that grinning man?
Hay! Look out! Here they
come!
The Devil leaping and dancing way in front,
Horsehead, next, Cowhead holds him by his tail.
Look at Belly-Woman, her belly so big.
Mother says in her stomach she keeps rude children.
And lets them out when thy are forgiven.
But if you put ten dollars in her hand,
She will forget you to swallow
And warn you to be good next year..
Watch out! Look at Indian Bwoy!
“Whayeeee! Heheee! Hay-eeh!” he yells
And wheels his wooden tomahawk
Have a ten dollar coin ready for his hand,
Or he may chop off your feet!
Look at his colourful feathers and his painted face,
I like his long strings of beads and his moccasins.
They seem softer than my tight leather shoes.
I like the Queen the best, most gorgeous!
As she dances with her barefooted King
She is always asking for money.
To buy him a pair of shoes.
Hey! Hey! She won’t think you rude,
If you pay her ten dollars to lift her skirt;.
Hey! What a big red drawers! Look at her legs!
I swear they are the legs of a man,
No queen ought to have such massive calves!
But it’s Merry Christmas
Everything is big, bright and red,
And things done in darkness will will come to light.
And where is Pitchy –Patchy? Look there he is!
He is trying to ride Horsehead!
Why is he wearing so much cloth?
A big, long gown of multicoloured scraps!
He is busy moving in and out of shops,
With his blackened palm outstretched;
Look how his colorful rags jump and dance.
“Gimme money! Gimme money!’ he screamed and screeched,
“Gimme money! Gimme money!” is the junkunu’s cry..
You may come from your hiding, little children.
The junkunu men have come and gone.
But be good next year, they warned.
With squealing fife and goat skin drum,
Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! Ho-ho! Ho-ho!
When poinsettia, euphorbia and sorrel bloom,
And carols of joy are being sung,
Next Christmas, beware, they will be back.
(By O.C.)
Section C, Poems of Delights for Children
Snowball & Einstien~Christmas Love Birds
My name is Snowball
I can sing, dance, and all
For what I do best
I get kissed on my crest.
I’m a Cockatoo with funny hair
When Mom seen me dance to the music
She nearly fell out of her chair
I got it baby, I'll never lose it
Well I don’t think I could
My dancing’s funny to her
I' am pretty darn good.
Like she can do any better.
I brighten so many days
across the globe
Thanks for the media,
the whole world caught o
I’m a spokesbird for parrots
around the world.
I ’m an internet sensation...phenomenon!
I've heard of this other bird
That speaks her mind
And my heart purred
She sounds so fine
She’s a parrot named Einstein
We should do a big show together
We would be poetic like rhyme
Birds of a feather, star together.
She says,
Sweetheart
Does a wolfs' howl,
She's a tiger of
the jungle
and growls,
She can hoot like an owl,
With many more animal sounds.
She doesn't drink beer,
but loves to get down
She
loves to party,
goes crazy for everybody;
I would be in,
parrot, heaven
If she’d say, yes, to my question
May I have this dance?
(By W..S.)
Soldier Crab
A soldier crab in mottled grey
Clumsily marched on a deserted
beach,
Except for myself.
He held a huge claw aggressively
high
And goggled at me with big wat'ry eye,
As he scurried away
with a sideway glide,
Most guardedly on his armour’s legs.
As
I guardedly approacht,
He must have thought I was a
terrorist
Laden with murderous intent.
Flee not, Soldier!
You cowardly crab!
I am only an innocent child,
Though I seem
so tall.
I am childishly innately curious,
Why are you so arm'd
?
Such a huge clumsy claw,
The other so weak and small !
Fear
not, Soldier! Fear not !
I have only marbles in my pocket
And a
yellow banana in my hand,
Which with you I'll gladly share.
If
you will halt just a while.
Soldier Crab, why wave your weapon
so high,
If you do not intend to fight ?
If in defence, where
is the enemy?
Surely not! No, not!
With such a huge claw,
You are not equipt for battle,
And
you are lockt in shell.
If it is for seeking food,
Wouldn't it
be easier
To set a slipp'ry net to catch a fish
Or like a
spider slyly snare a silly fly?
(By O.C.)
The Nine Lives Of Kitty-Cat
I looked from my window and saw
A
five-year old weeping over a lifeless cat,
Just
six metres from my street door.
She is
a little slip of a girl
Who lives across
the street from me.
I often saw
her playing before my house,
On the
sidewalk , with that wily beast.
Poor
hapless Kitty- Cat!
Its tawny sides
were flattened like a postage stamp,
Its
hind legs outstretched forty-five degrees
To
its erect tail,
Its fore- paws
were rigidly pointing toward it’s head,
And
wide open were its glassy eyes
No
longer able to contract the light
Nor
distend their pupils in the dark.
I heard
a speeding car at early morn,
It must have
over-run Kitty-Cat in flight;
Her chasing
a late-night mouse
Or returning from a
romantic caterwaul.
Said I to the
weeping tot," Never mind,
Let me dry
your tears.
Kitty has lost only one of her
lives,
I'll give you a little magic
black cat
To wear on your breast over your
heart,
And in three days, I
promise,
Kitty-Cat will return a new born
babe."
Sunshine broke through
the rain-clouds on her face,
And she
smilingly asked, "For real?"
"For
real!" I said and shared her infant joy,
Though
I felt like weeping,
As I bent and picked
up the corpse by its tail.
And I thought
of a little black cat picture
I mut cut
from an old shoe-box .
And to rummage
for a safety pin,
And I must appear within three days,
With a mewling kitten in my arms. ………….(O.C.)
Black Swans Awn Pink Lawns
The great land afar
is grand and bizarre
Black swans wander and go
on pink lawns to and fro
Under a yellow sky
Orange clouds weep green rain
Storms slowly raise in this domain
With a bright blue sun
It is big to behold
the striking red lightning phenomenon.
( By W.S.)
Little Child
I once said to a little child,
"Little One, who made
you,
In your innocence you do not know?"
"But I
believe what my mother told me,"
And she laughed with
childhood glee,
And her voice sparkled like a tiny wave
Frisking
and laughing on a silvery sea.
"My mother said he was once a
little child
Who made turtle doves of clay,
And they grew wings
and flew away.
When he became a man,.
He called a brother
from the grave
And restored him to his sisters again;
He
taught humble fishermen how to fish,
Filled five thousand bellies
from a dish,
Told the angry sea to be still,
And learn-ed men
he confounded.
Moher said he kept his innocence,
Though
he was the son of man;
And few believed him, many hated him,
When
he said he is the Son of God.
His own close friend betrayed
him
Into the hands of wild and wicked men,
They beat him mocked
him and killed him,
Though they knew they were doing wrong.
And
she told me what he said:
Forgive them for they know not what they
do."
"Yes, Dear Child," I said to that little
child,
"I can tell you more, even more,
If you cease from
banging that door.
Learn and believe what your mummy told you."
A
peaceful age may come,
When a little child shall lead them,
The
wolf the lion the kid and the calf
Like gentle sheep into the
fold.
That Knowledge was the tree of sin,
I did not tell that
little child,
Fearing she may misunderstand,
Lest she may lose
her innocence
Too soon among the ills of time. ( By O.C.)
Shadow Fun
Kay Lynn & Daisy love to play the shadow game.
"Momma turn on the lamp so we can start playing."
"Momma, what are my hands saying?"
“ I’ am a dinosaur, see my teeth, there are four.”
“My mouth can open wide, hear my roar.”
“Crawling, crawling up the wall,
“I’m the biggest spider of all.”
Shadow fun, shadow fun,
A fun game for anyone.
Shadow fun, shadow fun
Lets play everyone.
"Momma, I look for my shadow in my dreams.”
“That’s why sometimes you hear me think.”
“ I’ am a bunny rabbit, see my ears, there are two.”
“ My face is cute and cuddly, Mamma just like you.”
“Flying, flying on the wall.”
“I’m the fastest bird of all.”
Shadow fun, shadow fun.
A fun game for anyone.
Shadow fun, shadow fun,
Lets play everyone.
“Momma, use two hands, pretend Daddy's kissing you.”
“When he gets home he’ll play too, we know he misses you.”
“I’ am an angel flying up to Jesus.”
“He plays too because he sees us.”
“Flowers, flowers begin to bloom.”
“The prettiest flowers in the room!”
Shadow fun, shadow fun,
A fun game for anyone,
Shadow fun, shadow fun,
Let’s play everyone.
(By W.S.)
Greedy, Silly Little Dog
A little dog went a foraging
A foraging went a little dog, he
went,
At a butcher's shop a juicy dry bone he found,
He found
a juicy dry bone , yes, he did!
And down the street he ran, ran
he, he ran
To chew juicy dry bone beneath a tree,
To seek a
tree he did that little dog,
To chew his juicy dry bone
quietly.
Yum-yum- yummy -yum-yum-yummy- yum-yum!
.
Lucky
little dog had to cross a bridge
A bridge to cross that little dog
he had.
To seek a tree to chew and chew and
chew;
Yum-yummy-yum-yum yum-yummy-yum-yum! !
His juicy dry bone
right merrily.
He saw a bigger bone with a bigger dog,
In the
water it seemed ,a bigger bone;
Yum-yum -yummy-yum yummy- yum-yum!
And a bigger bone that bigger dog
had,
Yum-yum-yummy-yum-yum-yummy- yum-yum!
From the bridge
the little dog jumped, jumped he,
That greedy silly little dog,
did he !
To grab bigger bone from the bigger dog,
What greedy
silly little dog was he!
There was no big dog with a bigger
bone;
He jumped at his own shadow , yes he did!
He did, that
greedy silly little dog
At his own shadow he jumped , jumped did
he!
That juicy dry bone went a sailing,, yes!
A sailing
to see the wide wider world,
The wider world a sailing went, it
did!
Shivering the greedy little dog sat.
On the shore a
shivering sat,he did,
As wet as wet as wet as a wet mop,
Like
a wet mop as wet was he, he was;
As sad as sad ,as sad , sad as he
could.,
As sad , that greedy silly little dog.
As sad, as sad,
as sad , sad as could be.
By O.C)
Fruit Of Heritage
My children, our lives together
is by the grace of God
Your lives are sweet
with it’s natural method
You are blessings and gifts to me
You are on Gods reward list you’ll see
My children, life’s frontier is difficult,
so be full of hope
Pioneer through its crisis
with principles to cope
In this world of many things
You are young princes soon to be kings,
My children, you belong to God and he calls
He will find you love so be sensitive to loves needs
Society puts up hurt, for you to build walls
In atmospheres, have a good attitude,
and have actions that teach to all.
My children,
Old I begat you for your eyes,
and love for your ears,
and poems for your heart, A legacy. ( By W.S.)
Mama Short Legs
Mama short legs
With an adjustable beak;
Shovel headed swinging side to side
Zeet-zeet-zeet!
Cree-cree-cree!
Ch-ch-ch-ch-urrrrr!
Katy did-katy didn’t dare
Mama short legs
With an adjustable beak;
Spear headed pricking victims, sticking
Tweet, tweet, tweet!
Caw, caw, caw!
Gr-gr-gr-gr- urrrr
Katy did-katy didn’t slur
Mama short legs
With an adjustable beak;
Nutcracker headed, cracking spreading
Cree, cree, cree!
Cra, cra, cra!
Chip, chip, chip!
Katy did-katy didn’t lip.
Mama short legs
With an adjustable beak;
Tweezer headed squeezing, lo‘ bleeding
Squee, squee, squee!
Err, err, err!
Cac, cac, cac!
Katy did-katy didn’t hack
Mama short legs
With an adjustable beak;
Drill headed with a pounding embedding
Ree, ree, ree!
Cru, cru, cru!
Haw-haw-haw!
Katy did-katy didn’t jaw
Mama short legs
With an adjustable beak;
Straw headed dipping, sucking and sipping
Sizz, sizz, sizz!
Slurp, slurp, slurp!
Katy did-katy didn’t live. (By S.W.)
My Dear Spiderlings
I tell ya, I tell ya, I did
ride on the back of an arachnid
Forwards, backwards, or even sideways
Let me tell you about those days
About my spider ranch, no lie
Eight of them, with eight eyes
Mine jumped high and very fast
And ate anything they caught
Well, they had big appetites
ate lizards, frogs, and mice
No matter what the size
Fanged their victims
with venom and paralyzed
Hell, I tell ya, they can’t chew
They’ll suck the liquids out of you
Spinning sticky strands of silk
So to them you are like milk
Some wait on webs, some inside
Watch’em, cause patiently
very soon they’ll strike.
(By W.S.)
The Goblin Wars
Directly out of Angband the Goblins march
You can hear them coming
You can hear their song
The Black, The Black
Down To Goblin Town you go my lad
and so the Goblins marched on
High their flag was hung
and there Glaurung hung above
following their song
Glaurung, so strong
Father of Dragons
so old but powerful
Dragon of gold
Breathing death and a heart so cold
Great Worm
Swish swash crush smash
Down, Down to Goblin Town you go my lad!
Grip, grab pinch nab
Down, Down to Goblin Town you go my lad!
Clash smack whip crack
Down, Down to Goblin Town you go my lad!
Pound, pound far underground
Down, Down to Goblin Town you go my lad!
Beat, bash Goblins laugh
Down, Down to Goblin Town you go my lad!
Crash snap the deep crack
Down, Down to Goblin Town you go my lad!
(By S.W.)
\
Hippopotamus
Hippo, Hippopotamus,
Potamus Hippo Hippopotamus,
]
You,
in the river, I hear you always
snorting.
As if to fart aloud is nothing.
False ideas you have got,
Just like how a farmer forgot
The hen in the rubble,
Shaking her feathers after a rustle
In the cockpit with the gallant cock,
Cock-a-doodle do! What a pluck
More eggs she shall lay than a fat duck!
The rooster is a Don Juan
He has got a clutch of hens on his hand,
An annoying secret under his gaudy wing,
It’s his ego, It’s a lice. What a serious thing!
Hippo, Hippopotamus, what have you got,
You water-lovin’ master of the thick-skinned lot?
She is gonna lay two dozen eggs.
Don’t break them with your stubby legs.
Look out for the cat, she will have kittens.
If you step on her white mittens.
A dog will wag his tail for a dollar,
If you buy him a collar.
The cat will pose for the camera.
She may
not be like a chimera,
If you can persuade her to caress a rat.
A
rat !Ah –ah! A living rat in the arms of a cat!
Hey, don’t think you are a handsome guy.
Enjoying beauty on the sly.
You ain’t got a horn on your snout.
You ain’t got a face to brag about,
You need a facial for your chin.
Pretty short and thick is your stout shin.
Bleaching of dark skin is fashionable,
But have some sense don’t be damnable.
Don’t you be an ignoramus,
Be sure to remain truly hippopotamus!
What for are those long canines.
For to tear the throat of your enemies?
They come with bullets and guns
You got to change gears and run.
You don’t need long teeth to eat grass,
People may think you are a fat ass,
But to brace them, please never,
You’d only be making’ the dentist richer.
More like hog’s cousin you ought,
For with big, thick lips you were wrought.
You think you are the king of Africa,
Usurping the elephant by the river,
You know the lion is the monarch
From before the days of Noah’s ark.
Why do you pretend what you are not?
You so thick and clumsy and fat.
Hipppo! Hippopotamus!
You endowed with everything plus,
Barrel-shaped,
short legs and huge head.
Eyes popping from your skull like
lead,
Everyday, all day, daily grass fed.
Hippo, you hold your hot head in water,
In a river you are a free squatter.
You are a good swimmer,
You are a great diver.
Why from world contests you refrain?
To carry medals you’d need an aeroplane.
Ain’t you have ambition,
Where is your aspiration?
You live by a crummy water hole,
Why not go see the wide world whole?
Your phallus is your thalamus,
You make it in the mud to rust.
The girls will enjoy the ride
On their backs, despite your hide.
You think you are a graceful unicorn,
Though a huge mouth you have for a horn.
You are built like a battleship.
There was a slip between the cup and the lip.
Hippo, Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus.
Who called you a rhinoceros?
You seem to be a dinosaur!
It could be a question rather sore.
If some bright archaeologist
Decides to add you to the list.
Opposition surely he’d meet,
His claim would be viewed as raw, raw meat.
Hippo! Hippopotamus, Potamus must,
Must not believe nor people trust.
You seem to despise what you are.
I hear you snorting from afar
Or are you loudly ranting
That life is very, very daunting?
Children, it’s rude to call me hippopotamus.
Though I look more like an elephant,
Let’s call a spade a spade,
Lest in oblivion we simply fade.
Bald head a prophet by kids did call,
Was annoyed, not pleased at all.
From a clump of forest green led,
A pair of bears on the kids he fiercely fed.
A word is enough for the wise,
Beware! Never dare to think otherwise!
Let’s call a hippopotamus a hippopotamus,
Yeah, there need not be any fight or fuss.
You may manage to save your pelt.
If discretion rules how you acted or dealt.
(By O.C)
Seymour , The Sea Chicken
Drum them land drums
Drum, drum them land drums
Round frames, membranes
Percussioning them seas and plains
Have you seen Seymour,
Seymour- the Sea Chicken
walking around seeing some more?
He’s a big balla
From Walla Walla
Drum them land drums
Crumpty Dumpty like a Chief Wa Who
You know what you have to do
Drum them land drums
Mack had to go back
to the shack to get his life on trek
Honest Mary is at the library
Jake had to take a break, so
Ring them bells
they resemble them land drums
Get knee deep....in knee slapping
If you don’t have a drum
then get those hands a clapping
Drum them land drums
Drum, drum them land drums
Have you seen see more,
Seymour- the Sea Chicken
walking around seeing some more?
He has all the tools in his gang box
He maybe on a sky scrapper
Baby he can see for blocks
Stop JD hogging it
Start drum logging it
Drum them land drums
Drum, drum them land drums
This is a shanty- a sailors song
This is a shanty
This is a shanty- a sailors song
Have you seen Seymour,
walking around seeing some more all life long.
(By W.S,)
Section D: Irony For Adults
Who Wants To Be The Football?
It’s that time of year
to play smear the queer
As good as any, today
is a good time to play
So who wants to be the Football?
Is it you, the one with the double face?
Is it you that wants to be kicked into space?
There the whistle blows
I ‘m smiling because you know.
I love football since I was a kid,
and still, I keep nothing hid
Who wants to be the Football?
Is it you, the one who stole my love
Is it you that wants to be kicked high above?
Do you think I forgot?
I forgave and that’s alot
I loved her since I was a man,
and still, I don’t think the one understands.
I can take the pain
Football is my game
I’m hawking you
You know my name
See a long time ago
when I was a little bro
I knew that I could
be better than good
Even though I was ran over by a truck
I still have my luck so, who wants to be struck?
Football comes with some smack
The spirit of the game I do not lack
So who wants to be the Football?
Is it you, the one with a little guts?
Is it you that wants to be kicked in the nuts?
There between the goal posts
I ‘m smiling because you know
I love football any given day
And you won’t get the points when I play.
(ByW.S.)
Riding On The Merri-Go- Round
Once some gents met for a
debate;
Though
not all were mad don't you think,
The
merri- go- round was their chosen venue,
On
a topic they could not decide.
"To
solve this simple equation," the teacher pondered;
IF
X relates to Y, then Y requires an answer!"
"I
could not say the prayers today," moaned the priest,
"I
believe I left them in my breviary.
And
they have lockt the vestry!"
"Let's
talk about this and that," suggested the
clown;
Replied
the priest ,"I solemnly disagree!
I
am unwilling to expound on that,
I
am a doctor of divinity!"
"Well
!" asked the clown,
"Shall
we talk abou clowning?
It's
not simplier than preaching!"
"Isn't cloning a sort of scientific
clowning?"
Asked
the priest of the clown;
"Oh
no!" replied the clown;
"There
is a difference in the spelling!"
"Oh
yes!" the ventriloqust reminded;
"A
double you is the variance !
But
I see where they differ
Also
in pronouncing !'
I
wish to talk about politics;
I
am eager for some new tricks
I
could use in puppetry!"
"I don't think
it matters!" cried the tumbler;
"It's
safe as long as there's a trampoline !"
"Yes
siree!" cried the operator,
"So
long the crowd keeps coming,
The
ferris wheel is fine;
Children
like to go up and up,
Nobody
wants to go down!"
"Don't
forget the fireworks !" shouted the pyrotechnic;
"Fire-eating
is the main attraction!"
"Well !" exclaimed the
teacher;
"I
am really confused !
Will
someone give the correct answer,
In
this simple equation.
Could
all reality be a lie,
If
X does not relate to Y?"
"You
may be right!" the acrobat yell'd;
"I
must try it on the trapeze !"
"Don't
do that!" the lion tamer warn'd
"Did
you mean the chimpanzee?
She
ought to marry with the tiger!"
"What?"
screamed the ventriloquist in uproar;
The
giraffes would be curious,
The
elephants would blow their trumpets,
The
hyenas would laugh them to scorn!"
"I
should have broke' his arm!" the wrestler
growled;
"Peace
be unto you!" murmur'd the priest;
"Let
us offer to each other the hand of peace!
It
is not exactly amoral!" he loudly announced.
"To
utter a blasphemous word ! Stop the cloning!
Oops!
I mean the clowning!
Oh
no! The cloning! It will disrupt eschatology!"
"Father,"
quippt the circus master,
"I
believe you mean ecology!"
"Whey!" cried the
teacher;"
"I
am totally dumbfounded!
Will
someone answer correctly,
If
X relates to Y,
And
to Y there is no answer,
Is
that why we ride on the merri-go- round?"
Yeah
! Riding o the merri- go- round!
Day
after day night after night,
From
light to dark from dark to light,
From
sunrise to sunset round and round.
( By O.C,)