INSEPARABLE TWO

You both came into my life when the going was
tough. My heart you've both touched, I would've
never rebutted. Your kicks were surmountable
and I sometimes wonder, when all this discomfort
would ever end; but in the twinkle of an
eye, before it was your time, there came a pop
and I was in shock; the water broke and soon
you both were here, to grace the world with
your lovely presence giving your parents the
most marvelous presents for Christmas and the
New Year. December 17, 1985 was a day to
remember – the day when you both were born,
two of your ancestors gave you the way;
because they died on that very day. Yes
the angels sang and heaven rejoiced that
you both were born on that fateful day.

One tooth each was a troubling sight, though
they said that it was a good sign; that you
both were destined to have foresight; that
all the duppies in the world would not give
you a fright. You both did everything in
unison and and I sometimes felt despaired
about the frequent and doubled chores. But
when you smiled and looked in my eyes;
through the window went all my woes.

Now you are both men and are still the
inseparable two, I hope someday you’ll wed,
giving your wives this memorable gift that
has been bestowed to me. Love abounds in
my heart for you both; inseparable,
twins you are.

Pauline Pounall-Douglas
March 8, 2009

Dedicated to Jaren and Jomar

DID YOU REMEMBER TO PRAY?

Of all the blessings bestowed unto you,
did you remember to pray?
Of all the sins you've committed,
did you remember to pray?

When the lord changed your crooked
ways to those that are somewhat on
the straight and narrow path, did you
stop to say: "thank you lord for
changing my soul?"

When you tear down your country-man
or ridicule your sister/friend; did you
ever stop to think that the sun shines for
everyone, sometimes for you and some-
times for them? And did you stop to pray
asking the lord to give them a little
sunlight with the rain and gloom to
brighten up their day?

Don't forget to pray for the persons you
know, aquainted or unknown; beseech
the lord on their behalf for his mercies and
blessings, that we all can be strong,
knowing that someone is praying for us
all the day long.

Pauline Pounall-Douglas
March 7, 2009

EMBRACING MY BLACKNESS

Does my blackness offend you?
Sorry! I’m not about to change
Better yet, it’s virtually impossible.
No bleaching cream can compensate
the struggles my fore parents have
been through; they have given me
this opportunity to be the free person
I am today. Yes even to write this sh..

If you cannot stand to look at me the
way I am; close your eyes, but please
in your envisioning don’t ever think
of me in any other colour than
I really am. Prejudice you might say;
o no! it’s not about that at all.

Its really about embracing my
blackness; loving self; empowering
those who feel the same way I do and
being at peace with the way I look:
round face flat nose and yes, a very
big head that is not full of the
sh.. that some persons of a different
hue or simply thinking that they are,
thinks.

So if my blackness offends you, here
is what you can do: take your
sh.. and shove it in the most
inconceivable part of your pea-size
brain that is so small, it cannot be or
it refuses to rise above the triviality
of skin and not to the intellectuality
of my inner being, cause I’m
BLACK and that's a fact and I'm not
about to change!

MIRACLE CHILD

Pretty little girl so precious and dear
How did you get here when the doctors dared
to say you were an impossibility, a dream I
could not share amongst the millions of mothers
on earth who do not care that the child they
bear was simply not there?

Now look at you in all your glory
Being here tells a story, that man on earth
who sets themselves like superb Gods,
are just here to facilitate their master’s plan.
To him bestows a greater force that gives life
by his design; answering to our prayers divine.

Glory to God, the most high
for giving me this wonderful child.

Written by: Pauline Pounall-Douglas
March 7, 2009

Dedicated to Dejauna

A MOTHER’S LAMENTATIONS

Child, how many times must
I tell you to close your mouth if
you have nothing good to say?
Speak when spoken to and
answer when you are called.

Don’t tell me that it’s a new era
and that I need to change, because
it’s this constant change makes the
world this mess today, I do hope
some day you’ll understand.

Dealing with young ‘adults without
sense’ of today is not an easy task;
but when you loose the will to fight,
then the indiscipline takes flight and
believe me it kills the will to live.

When your time comes to find a good
man, I hope you’re prepared to peel
bananas and yams. Child If you’re
not prepared Mess up your hands,
then you will not get a wedding band.

Surely, I know that you will not want to
be, like Miss Mary’s Sue who turned
out to be so miserable and blue. Cause
try as she may, pretty and o so gay,
never will she live to see a wedding day.

I know some day you’ll remember my
plight and look back at my struggles
in life, for just to make two ends meet,
I had to sleep with every man I meet
and so I hope this will not be your feat.

So hear what I say, and don’t do as I did.
Yes, the university education will pay off
some day, it sure will! If I don’t live to
see the fruits of my labour, then the ants
will come tell me the outcome later.

The Staff Room

It’s morning; the buzz begins
Heels clicking, mouths yapping
Someone’s telling the previous night’s events

Someone’s reading, another’s sneezing
Someone’s gossip is revealing
That the inward person is conceited

Pretenders hug you, behind your back
They stab you with defiling utterances
That is downright untrue

In a corner you sit observing
Body languages that are not conserving
What the heck! Who is caring?

FULLFILMENT

A mighty one has risen
to power and great fame;
Should anyone ask you who,
Barak Obama is his name!

He came to fame so humbly
like a quiet dessert storm.
Men now look to him for
answers where his
predecessor failed.

Rise up! Oh mighty nation
of Kenya’s birthright stead.
Your son has claimed his
rightful spot to reign
victoriously.

Painful shackles of slavery
antecedes this victory; our
forefathers fought for
freedom, they now pat him
on the back, saying “son
you make us proud of being
born from a black race.”

Martin Luther’s ‘I have a
Dream’ must have been
your dream too, cause look
how far that you have
reached, to fulfill our
ancestral fight; for justice,
truth, equality and
recognition of a mighty,
powerful race!

Pauline Pounall-Douglas
January 19, 2009