NO LONGER DO THEY CRY THEY BARELY EMPATHIZE NO TEARS FROM THEIR EYES THEY RARELY SYMPATHIZE WHAT ARE THE REASONS THE QUESTION IS WHY? HAS SOCIETY BECOME DESENSITIZED? HAS THE POPULACE BECOME UNCIVILIZED? THERE ARE TOO MANY RAPES AND TOO MANY VILE PREVALENCE OF MURDERS AND OTHER CRIMES PEOPLE ARE NO LONGER SHOCKED NO LONGER HORRIFIED WHENEVER THERE ARE VEHICULAR ACCIDENTS OR SOMEONE IS INJURED AND ON THE ROAD LEFT TO DIE THEY WILL FAIL TO GIVE ASSISTANCE AND NO COMPASSION THEY WILL APPLY INSTEAD, THEIR CAMERAS ARE AIMED AT THOSE WHO ARE COMPROMISED THEN THE GORY PHOTOS ARE PUBLISHED ON SOCIAL MEDIA, ONLINE YES, EVERYTHING HAS TO BE SENSATIONALIZED THEN THEY COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER TO SEE WHO GET THE MOST LIKES CHILDREN ARE UNLOVED THEY ARE SEVERELY CHASTISED THERE IS A LACK OF RESPECT FOR THE ELDERLY AND THE MARGINALIZED IMPORTANT THINGS ARE REGULARLY TRIVIALIZED MATERIAL POSSESSIONS ARE OFTEN PRIORITIZED WHILE HUMAN LIVES ARE CONSIDERED WORTHLESS AND FREQUENTLY MINIMIZED THERE IS TOO MUCH GREED AND TOO MUCH GLUTTONY THEY WILL NEVER BE SATISFIED WITH WICKEDNESS IN THEIR MIDST, EVIL THEY IDOLIZED GODLINESS IS NEEDED IN THEIR HEARTS, MINDS, AND LIVES WRITTEN BY: CHARMAINE ALWWO0D HANSON 9/25/2021 Photo by Kai Pilger on Pexels.com
OUT OF MIND. OUT OF SIGHT…
IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE, YOU CAN BE FORGOTTEN
THROWN AWAY LIKE GARBAGE, LIKE FOOD THAT’S ROTTEN
YEARS OF SOCIALIZATION CAN BECOME OBSOLETE
YEARS OF WORKING TOGETHER NO LONGER CONCRETE
ALL THE FRIENDSHIP AND CAMARADERIE ARE GONE
RELATIONSHIPS NOW A PASS-ON
THERE ARE NO MORE TOGETHERNESS AND MEETINGS
NO GREETINGS, NO MORE GALIVANTING OR FEASTING
MY HEART ACHES, MY SOUL BLEEDS
AS THIS AFFILIATION AND NURSING CAREER CEASE
THERE ARE NO MORE CALLS, NO MORE APPLAUSE
NO MORE SECRETS SHARED; NO MORE RUMORS BARED
NO MORE CHATTER, NO MORE LAUGHTER
THIS SEEMS LIKE A DREAM, SEEMS LIKE THE HEREAFTER
MY WORK FAMILY WHO I THOUGHT I COULD RELY UPON, NOW GONE
ABANDON, NO MORE WORK COMPANION
THANK GOD FOR FAMILY AND ASSOCIATES ON WHOM I CAN DEPEND
SHOW EMPATHY, AND REMAIN, MY FRIENDS
FOR, I HAVE BECOME NULL AND VOID, ABANDONED, AND CAST ASIDE
NEVER KNEW THAT MY WORK-PLACE LINK
MY CO-WORKERS BOND WOULD EVER DIE
FIVE YEARS OF WORK CONTRIBUTION, NULLIFIED
IN MERE SECONDS, IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE
By Charmaine Allwood-Hanson
Extract from book I Write. You Recite
Photo by Anna Tarazevich on Pexels.com
Jamaica Independence
Island Vibe
AUGUST 6TH 1962 SIGNALED THE END OF 300+ YEARS OF BRITISH RULE ALEXANDER BUSTAMANTE WAS OUR NEW LEADER HE WAS ELECTED AS THE FIRST PRIME MINISTER WE LOWERED THE BRITISH FLAG, THE UNION JACK AND HOISTED OUR OWN, THE GOLD, GREEN, AND BLACK WE SELECTED OUR OWN SYMBOLS, ANTHEM, AND EMBLEMS AND ELECTED MEMBERS TO PARLIAMENT FORMED OUR OWN POLICE FORCE AND MILITARY WE REGULATED OUR OWN CURRENCY FRAMED OUR OWN DEMOCRACY ENDING BRITISH AUTHORITY OUR HEROES WE HONOR AND NOMINATE SIX MALES, ONE FEMALE WE ORIGINATED SKA, REGGAE, AND DANCEHALL EXCELLED IN MANY SPORTS SUCH AS CRICKET, FOOTBALL TRACK AND FIELD AND NETBALL THE POPULATION NOW, NEARLY THREE MILLION WITH DIVERSE, ETHNIC, AND CULTURAL TRADITIONS EVOLVED FROM AFRICANS, CHINESE, EAST INDIAN MIDDLE EASTERN, AND CAUCASIAN OUR MOTTO SAYS “OUT OF MANY, ONE PEOPLE” WE ARE HIGH ACHIEVERS, WE ARE STRONG, WE ARE NOT FEEBLE WE ARE RELIGIOUS, WE ARE SPIRITUAL WITH SOME REVIVALISTS, SOME RASTAFARIANS AND SOME CHRISTIANS WE ARE STILL STRIVING FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SOAR THIS YEAR WE ARE 59 YEARS OLD HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JAMAICA OUR BEAUTIFUL ISLAND HOME WRITTEN BY: CHARMAINE ALLWOOD HANSON 8/4/21
She. Her Journey. The Old Into The New
SHE WAS FULL OF RAGE
ANGRY THAT SO MANY ATROCITIES CAME HER WAY
SOME BY HER OWN CHOICE
OTHERS FLUNG AT HER, FROM A TENDER AGE
IN ILLICIT AFFAIRS SHE WAS ENGAGED
IMMORALITY SHE PERPETRATE
HER PAST AND CURRENT LIFESTYLE SHE WAS ASHAMED
SHE WANTED TO SHED HER EVIL WAYS
SO SHE PRAYED, SHE WAILED
SHE CALLED TO GOD
SHE PLEADED IN HIS HOLY NAME
TO ERASE WHAT LED HER ASTRAY
GOD HEARD HER PLEAS, AND HER SINS HE FORGAVE
SHE WAS THANKFUL FOR HIS MERCIES AND GRACE
FROM THE FATHER, SHE VOWED NOT TO STRAY
SHE PROMISED TO FOLLOW THE NEW AND
THE RIGHTEOUS STEPS OUTLAYED
FOR THE WILLPOWER AND STRENGTH SHE PRAYED
THAT NOTHING WILL INTERFERE OR SWAY
HER JOURNEY AS SHE FORGED ALONG THE NEW PATHWAY
By Charmaine Allwood-Hanson 7/15/21
Photo by Genaro Servu00edn on Pexels.com
What’s Going On?
THE SOCIETY IS GETTING LOOSE THERE IS PREVALENCE OF CHILD ABUSE HUNDRED OF ADDICTS, DRUGS ABUSED HUMAN TRAFFICKING FREQUENTLY IN THE NEWS ADULTS ARE LEWD CHILDREN ARE RUDE EVERYONE IS CRUDE POLITICIANS ARE SHREWD WITH EACH OTHER WE FEUD TOO MUCH NEGATIVE ATTITUDE SOME OF US RARELY EXPRESS GRATITUDE NO MORE THANK YOU WE NO LONGER SAY SORRY OR EXCUSE TOO MUCH NEGATIVE IS SPEWED WE HAVE TO SPEAK POLITICALLY CORRECT OR WHAT WE SAY IS MISCONSTRUED LIFE CERTAINLY HAS NO VALUE WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? WHAT A DEPRESSING MOOD IS IT GLOBAL WARMING MYTHS OR TRUTHS? IS IT THE GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD? By Charmaine Allwood-Hanson Photo by Cameron Casey on Pexels.com
Friendship…
I CAN’T WALK IN YOUR SHOES I HAVEN’T EXPERIENCED WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE MISFORTUNES, THE ABUSE, WITH NO HELP NO RESCUE TOUGH TIMES YOU HAVE FACED, MANY TRIALS AND DISGRACE BUT OUR FRIENDSHIP REMAIN STRONG, IT WILL NEVER BE REPLACED I WILL BE YOUR FRIEND, WITH OUTSTRETCHED HANDS TO LEND BECAUSE I AM LOYAL, I AM GENUINE, NOT FRAUDULENT I WILL BE STANDING WITH YOU UNTIL THE END I WILL GIVE A LISTENING EAR, WIPE AWAY YOUR TEARS SHOWING MY COMPASSION AND HIGHLIGHTING MY CARE I WILL BE A SHOULDER TO LEAN ON, BRING YOUR TRIBULATIONS WITH OUT-STRECH ARMS I WILL BE A BATON I WILL BE YOUR LIAISON BRING YOUR BURDEN, LAY IT ON THE TABLE I WILL BE AVAILABLE UNTIL YOU ARE ABLE, AND YOU ARE STABLE I JUST WANT TO BE A FRIEND, MY WILLINGNESS TO YOU I EXTEND THIS IS NO PRETENCE, RIDE, AND DIE TILL THE END UPON ME, YOU CAN DEPEND, I GIVE YOU MYSELF ALL OF ME, ONE HUNDRED PERCENT Written by Charmaine Allwood-Hanson Photo by Stefan Doncean on Pexels.com
We Are Caribbean
WE ARE THE CARIBBEAN
COUNTRIES AND ISLANDS
CONNECTED BY THIS VAST BLUE SEA
PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT RACES
RELIGIONS AND CREEDS
WE ARE THE CARIBBEAN
A GREAT MELTING POT
BRED FROM SLAVES, COLONIZERS
MERCHANTS, INDENTURED LABORERS
AND INDIGENOUS TRIBES
CULTURALLY WE ARE SO DIVERSIFIED
WE SPEAK ENGLISH, FRENCH
SPANISH AND DUTCH
PATOIS AND CREOLE
OUR LANGUAGES EMBODY
THE NEW AND THE OLD
WE ARE THE CARIBBEAN
OVER 26 NATIONS STRONG
LET ME NAME A FEW
AS THE LIST IS LONG
WE ARE GUYANESE, BARBADIAN
BELIZEANS AND JAMAICANS
PANAMANIANS, HAITIANS AND GRENADIANS
CUBANS, DOMINICANS, AND ANGUILLANS
WE ARE THE NATIONS OF ST. VINCENT
MONTSERRAT AND MARTINIQUE
WE ARE COUNTRIES, SMALL AND LARGE ISLANDS
WHICH MAKES OUR REGION UNIQUE
WE HAVE MOUNTAINS, VOLCANOES AND TOURIST RESORTS
WATERFALLS, HEALING AND HEALTH SPAS
TOP NOTCH SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES
WE ARE KNOWN FOR OUR DIVERSITIES
WE HAVE MANY HISTORICAL SITES
WE TRADE TOBACCO, SUGAR AND BANANAS WORLDWIDE
ALS0 OIL, CEMENT, ALUMINIUM, AND BAUXITE
OUR EXPORTS ARE OUR NATION’S HIGHLIGHTS
WE ARE THE CARIBBEAN
WE ARE FUN AND SPORTS
WE ARE CRICKET, LUDO AND DOMINOS
SOCCER, NETBALL,TRACK AND FIELD
WE ARE VERY COMPETITIVE WHEN WE COMPETE
WE ARE THE CARIBBEAN
WE ARE DANCE, TALENT, AND BEAUTY CONTEST
FESTIVALS AND CARNIVALS
AND FETES
WE ARE JERK CHICKEN, CURRY GOAT
CALALOO, ACKEE AND SALTFISH
OXTAIL, CONCH, ROTI
ROAST YAM AND FRIED FISH
DANCEHALL, STEEL DRUMS AND JUNKANOO
CALYPSO AND SOCA
WORLD RENOWNED REGGAE
MENTO AND RUMBA
WE ARE THE CARIBBEAN
OUR TRAILBLAZERS ARE EVERYWHERE
MARCUS GARVEY, SHIRLEY CHISHOLM
SYDNEY POITIER
HARRY BELAFONTE, LOUIS FARRAKHAN
THE RASTAFARIANS
MIGHTY SPARROW, BOB MARLEY
SEAN PAUL AND SHAGGY
WE HAVE TRADEMARKS
SUCH AS BLUE MOUNTAIN COFFEE
CUBAN CIGARS AND APPLETON RUM
WE ARE MARKETED FOR TOURISM AS
WHITE SAND BEACHES AND SUN
WE ARE DEFINITELY THE REGION FOR
PARTYING AND FUN
WE ARE THE CARIBBEAN
UNITED WE STAND
WE ARE THE CARIBBEAN
OUT OF MANY WE ARE ONE
WRITTEN BY: CHARMAINE ALLWOOD HANSON 06/22/2021
Photo by Leonardo Rossatti on Pexels.com
For Black Fathers
I Write. You Write. Book of Poetry which encompass poems that delight, highlights and bring insights to everyday issues of life. Written by Poet Charmaine Allwood-Hanson. Here’s a piece dedicated to black fathers.
BLACK FATHERS
SUPPORT YOUR WIVES AND BABY MOTHERS
THEY HAVE BEEN WAITING ON YOU FOR A WHILE
THEY NEED YOUR SUPPORT AT ALL TIMES
DESIST FROM YOUR SELF EXILE
BE A PARENT, FOSTER YOUR CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENT
BE A POSITIVE VOICE, GIVE THEM UPLIFTMENT
SO MANY OF OUR YOUTHS, BOYS SPECIFICALLY BUT GIRLS TOO
NO MALE ROLE MODELS THEY CAN PURSUE
THEY HAVE NO ONE TO LOOK TO
THEY NEED YOUR ASSURANCE; THEY NEED TO FEEL VALUED
YOUR ABSENTEEISM IS DISTURBING THE MISSION
CAUSING OUR MALES TO BE PLACED IN JAILS AND PRISONS
BRING ABOUT A NEW VISION, IMPROVE THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS
WE NEED TO RAISE DISTINGUISHED MEN
GIVE THEM A FUTURE, AND NOT A DEAD-END
GUIDE THEM, ON WAYS TO BE A MAN
TEACH THEM TO RESPECT WOMEN
OUR BLACK BOYS AND GIRLS NEED LOVE
AND HUGS
NOT GANGS, GUN, OR DRUGS, NOT TO BE LABELED AS THUGS
EDUCATE THEM ON LIFE LESSONS, IN THEIR LIVES BE A BLESSING
ENCOURAGE THEM TO STAY IN SCHOOL, TO BE LEADERS AND NOT FOOLS
BLACK FATHERS, IT’S TIME TO STEP UP AND
FILL THE VOID
SHOW UP, BE PRESENT, DON’T JUST BE A
SPERM DONOR, DON’T HIDE
BE A MAN, BE A FATHER, LIVE UPRIGHT
BUILD BLACK FAMILIES, BUILD BLACK CHILDREN LIVES
Written by Charmaine Allwood-Hanson
Saga Of George Floyd
SAGA OF GEORGE FLOYD
PLEASE I CAN’T BREATHE
I BEG YOU PLEASE, REMOVE YOUR KNEES
FROM MY NECK, OR I’LL END UP DEAD
SEE ME CRYING, LOOK I AM DYING
MY NOSE IS BLEEDING, I AM PLEADING
MY MOUTH IS FOAMING, HEAR ME MOANING
YOU HAVE ME DETAINED; YOU HAVE ME RESTRAINED
NO, I AM NOT RESISTING
MY BREATHING YOU ARE RESTRICTING
MY VEIN IS BEING CONSTRICTED
I AM SUBDUED, I AM HANDCUFFED, I AM NO THREAT
WHY DO YOU WISH UPON ME EARLY DEATH?
NINE MINUTES TWENTY-NINE SECONDS, YOU KNELT ON MY NECK
MY PULSE CHECKED, NO CPR TO RESURRECT
I AM SLOWLY DYING, I AM SLOWLY EXPIRING
MY LIFE IS FADING, IT’S SLIPPING AWAY
ON THIS WOEFUL MONDAY
I SAY I AM THIRSTY, BUT NO WATER, NO MERCY
IT SEEMS MY LIFE IS UNWORTHY
NOW I AM BARELY ALIVE, WISH I COULD BE REVIVED
DON’T THINK I WILL SURVIVE
THIS IS MY TRAUMA, MAYBE MY KARMA
I CALLED OUT FOR MY MAMA
NOW, THIS IS THE ENDING OF MY DRAMA
I AM GEORGE FLOYD, AND THAT’S MY SAGA
Written by Charmaine Allwood-Hanson 5/29/20
Photo by Life Matters on Pexels.com
Never Again…
DURING WORLD WAR 2, HITLER THE TYRANT RULED
WAR WAS WAGED, PROPAGANDA PREVAILED
THE GERMAN POSTULATED THEY WERE THE MASTER RACE
AMIDST ANTI-SEMITIC CAMPAIGNS, THE HORRIFIC NAZI REIGNED
THEY WERE EVIL, INHUMANE, AND CRUDE
THEY EXECUTED SIX MILLION JEWS
ALONG WITH MILLIONS OF GYPSIES, DISABLED, HOMOSEXUALS
AND OTHER NON-ARYANS
SLAVIC, LEFTIST, JEHOVAH WITNESS LIVES WERE ALSO DEPLETED
MENGELE EXPERIMENTED ON TWINS, AND THEM, HE MISTREATED
BABIES BORN, THEN DROWNED, DESPITE THE MOTHERS’ PLEADING
MANY WERE ROBBED OF THEIR BUSINESS, BELONGINGS, AND ABODES
PLACED IN CONCENTRATION CAMPS AND CONFINED TO GHETTOES
THE INTIMIDATORS WERE THE BRUTAL SECRET POLICE, THE GESTAPO
THE NAZIS SUPPORTERS WERE COLLABORATORS
MILLIONS WAS LED TO THE GAS CHAMBERS AND INCINERATORS
THOUSANDS STARVED, THE DISABLE EUTHANIZED
BABIES, PREGNANT WOMEN, THE YOUNG, THE OLD AND EVEN RABBIS
WERE SUFFOCATED AND DIED FROM ZYKLON B
AND CARBON MONOXIDE
THE RESISTANCE FIGHTERS WERE SYMPATHIZERS AND ALLIES
THE NAZIS THEY TRIED TO DESTABILIZE
THE HOLOCAUST WAS DREADFUL, IT WAS VIOLATION OF HUMAN LIFE
IT WAS MASS MURDER, MASSACRE, IT WAS GENOCIDE
THE VITRIOLIC, THE PREJUDICE AND THE HATE
THE FEAR THAT PERMEATED EUROPE’S AIR
THE ALMOST EXTERMINATION OF THE JEWISH RACE
THIS ABOMINABLE, DESPICABLE ACT MUST NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN
WRITTEN BY CHARMAINE ALLWOOD HANSON 3/20/2021
Photo by Marlon Martinez on Pexels.com
