DUSKY DARKNESS I hear the joyful chirping of the birds in the dusky light, As the day’s blanket of heat slowly lifts and The evening’s coolness shrouds the earth as a welcome relief. It’s so peaceful … so quiet, Oh, that each day of each year could come to an end with such a calm… no violence, no noise, just peace, with the birds singing in their resounding voices in joint harmony. Yes…another day has come to an end, the crickets have welcomed the night with their high pitched fiddling, the birds have said, good night.
This poem reminds me of Jamaica as I wrote it when I was 14 years old reflecting back to 26
Jamaican Diaspora
the day I sat with my uncle on the veranda. We sat in silence, looking into the distance as the dusk was descending onto the outline of the Blue Mountains, sensing everything beautiful. It was the day my father passed away. I knew then, at 12 years old that our life would change. But little did I guess that a couple years later my mother would move us all to Canada, bravely facing life in a strange country leaving all behind - family, friends, home and life as we knew it. Had my father not left us, I think we would still be living in Jamaica. How he loved Jamaica!
My dad epitomized Jamaica’s Moto “Out of Many One People” written on Jamaica’s Coat of Arms. He treated everyone with respect and care. He appreciated and valued those who put their hearts and minds into what they were doing. Even as young as I was, I saw him laugh and then instruct and then correct kindly with a passion that was almost scary if you didn’t know him, all
