Barbados Photo Gallery

Home Page | Webmaster Email |

BARBADOS I WANNA STAY

A story by DENNIS YOUNG


( WUNNA MASH UP MUH BRAIN)



MC;de next performer is ..wait i can't make out the spelling of this

name...

someone shouts:the name's BABAJEFF.

MC:thank yuh man..muh eyes failing muh..ok Babajeff come out wherever

you are..





Babajeff runs out of the audience with a piece of paper in his

hands. he looks excited.

Babajeff: alright peeps...uh here..uh ready..uh gine geh wunna one uh

me poems.it's called BLOOMING.







BLOOMING-written by Jeffrey(URIAH)McIntosh



Blooming

hey! our love is blooming

with everlasting affinity

and i await this union

to begin our daily grooming



Drifting

oh no! never drifting apart

this will be a brand new start

and when we make our mark

i won't leave without you sweetheart





Thinking

yes! thinking of you forevermore

because it's you i adore

and when we get together

and i'l, cherish your love forever





Sinking

well! it looks like sinking weather

but we'll plan our destiny together

i'll keep a beautiful treasure

for some continuous pleasure





Lost

come on! your love will never be lost

no matter how much it cost

because you are so sincere

i'll look for you everday





Love

my love for you is so real

let me prove it in detail

i wish you were always here

to share my thoughts each day



Friendship

our friendship will be blooming

along with a special union

and we'll continue our endeavor

to make love last forever







Uriah walks away from the microphone before the last words has reached

the audience.they clapped and wondered who he wrote the poem for.=(a

guessing game begins).





MC:Geh de man a harder clap dan dat,as Trevor Eastman would say..

hey.. you girl geh de man a clap...hehehehe..

(clap..clap..clap)

MC:okkkk dis next one gine wake wunna up..OLE SKULE AND MAD Q on

stage to geh wunna uh kung fu show.it has a story behind it..MAD Q will

set the scene and then Ole Skule will show us de kung fu moves while he

sings a soca song--come wid it..







Ole Skule comes on stage dressed as a shaloin master.he poses like he

is Wang Yu.MAD Q then sets the scene.





Mad Q; This is a story bout a man name I-EN-KAY,who went to de plaza

theater,to check out a flick--a kung fu flick..chop sticks..north

leg..mek yuh beg..afterwwards he went to see his girl,but then de story

goes another way.





MAD Q: I-en-kay comes out de cinema

comes out vex,because

he found earlier in the week

another man horning he

breking of he beek

-de man has a car

-he has a scooter

-de man has money

-he borrows money from he mudda

-the man has a job

-he is still in school

dress in short-pants

but one advantage i-en-kay has

-he knows KUNG FU

so now let us see whu happen

that day..





OLE SKULE as I-en-kay:this song called KUNGFUSHUN..geh uh lissen..and

watch me moves pon stage..uh gine geh wunna de crane..de fox..de tiger

claw..de eagle...all de styles uh know..so look out



Ole Skule makes a stance like BRUCE LEE,then starts singing and wuking

up to the beat.





OLD SKULE:

KUNGFUSHUN-written by R.Brigss-CC.1998-yom.additional

lyrics by Dennis Young

coming home one evening

from a kung fu flick

uh decide to check me gurl Yvette

muh scooter did brek down

so uh took uh ZR van

uh get off at de back

so uh cud surprise she

but when uh reach

she surprise me







Yvette in front de house

wid a big able man

sweet talk galore

and she holding he hand

he big like an ox and driving big car

she looking into he eyes

like he's a star



WHULOSS!! uh vex..uh in shock

uh look pon de ground

couldn't find uh big rock

it's at dat moment

uh lose me head top

uh run up and geh he uh karate chop





(chorus)

kungfushun!! uh causing kungfushun

in de road dat night

in Brenton

kungfushun!! uh causing kungfushun

Yvette tek off

like OBA pon de stadium



II.

well den i spin

did uh 360 back kick

uh miss de man

but de car's fender uh clip

he get vex

talking bout "boy don't mek muh laff

yuh come to fight

boy yuh don't stand uh chance"





well uh in a rage

like a tiger in a cage

so uh put on a stance

like Jackie chan

doing a breakdance

"hhhyhhhhhhhhaaaaay"

uh shout an attack

fist of fury

now uh running back

he swing a big cuff

and clip me jawbone

hurt me so bad

uh bend down and moan

whuloss!!

muh face is in uh mess

but uh get uh second wind

drop kick he in he chest







(chorus)

kungfushun!!







I-EN-KAY--(in an oriental voice)

so yuh want tek way me gurl hmmmm

fine den

yuh got go through me first.





(Man in an angry voice)

wait yuh lil bony boy

yuh like ya is a half idiot

yuh can't test me

i kin turn yuh

into uh duppy

uh does work out

uh big like uh bull

one cuff in yuh mout

and wid nuff teef..um full.







Ole-Skule;

yuh din know i have a black belt

in king fu taekwondo and tai chi



Man:

ha..ha..ha.. uh black belt yuh might own

but de pants yuh wearing, is yuh brother wun

so get outta muh way

uh gotta geh Yvette muh pay

uh love she bad

so don't get mad

we gine get marry

and de ring uh buy,

to de altar

yuh kin carry





Ole Skule..(real angry now--in bajan chinese accent)



marry..marry

dah's me gurl from schools days

she's de first girl uh kiss

under uh pea tree

so don't run up muh blood pressure

and mek muh fall down

here suh..

yuh leave me no choice

flying fist of fury

de drunken master

de crane..de eagle

de lizzard.tiger,snake and racoon

crocadile,de north leg

uh gine throw in de pot-starver style

dah one gine send de place wild





(chorus)

kungfushun!!







uh share bare licks dah night

muh mudda had tuh come

and tek me way

just like a bajan Jet- Li

when uh done

uh pose pon he

just hear de big man beggin



MAN CRYING:

"" lem muh go i en coming back atall

keep de woman

uh leffing like Winston Hall

so please don't brek muh hand

ayyy ayye

uh sorry.. yuh can't understand

i'm only she outside man



ole skule:

let dis be a warning

to all wunna so-call hard-seeds

touch muh Yvette

and deal wid dese

(showing fists)

she's mine..nobody

can tek she

from me

muh name is I-en-kay

and uh causing nuff kunfusion

in here





KUNGFUSHUN...UH CAUSING KUNGFUSHUN.







The crowd has taken to the floor.it's another wining session. it

lasts about eight minutes..the DJ stops the music and the MC restores

order.



MC:Cheese on.. wunna feel in here belong tuh wunna..all the wining and

de juking mek muh wann ...x(heehehehe)..ok well that's all for the

night.the show has come to an end,but guess what.. Patrick has told me

we gine carry this show over to friday ...all day..so if yuh have to go

work..call in sick--nah just joking..school children if wunna in

here..dah mean wunna en do nuh homework and we don't wann nuh picky

brain people pon stage..so guh school and we gine ketch wunna another

time..please see John Roette,if you want to perform on friday...all

others who were due to perform tonight,we have your names,so please get

here on friday 9:30 am sharp...anyway have a safe trip home..peace



He runs off the stage and towards some girls seated with Mario Layne.he

gets a few phone numbers and he is happy.





The crowd leaves the room orderly.some people singing the words to

KUNFUSHUN.smiles all around.





Duawee fists Brian.Brian reaches forward,hugs Veronica.Ingrid hugs and

kisses both of them.it's been a long day..to home and to bed

..sleepyheads.they walk to the car.





A slight caribbean wind flows through the night.a hug and a kiss and

some warmth enters her.a few yards from the door,they notice a girl

crying.they approach her.





Duawee;what's wrong? are you lost?

girl: no i'm not lost.my boyfriend got mad and drove off.now i have no

way of getting back to my hotel.he also took my purse with him.i don't

now what to do((sniff..sniff) can you take me to the hotel please?



Her eyes begged harder than her words.the flow of tears dripped unto

their hearts,melting them into compassion.Even though it was late,they

would have taken her anyway,but the eyes..greenish-blue surrendered all

else._ A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN_





Duawee; come with us,we'll take you there? what's the name of the hotel

?



The girl gives Duawee a card with the address and steps back into the

shadows.she nervous.another tear rolls down her face.the moonlight

captures and shines it upon her face.Veronica gives her a tissue.she

wipes away the tear and follow them.the car is waiting amoungst the

hustle of a smaller crowd. a crowd still singing the

words--kungfushun__kungfushun down in Breton>>



CAR turns around.

Three occupants,night,search,questions,silence,questions,anxiety found

the hotel..sees the room..walks to door..knocks..no answer..knocks

harder..open .. a face sleepy and drunk smashes against the night

air.The face mumbles something about ^leaving a god-forsaken island^,

with profanity following through spit and pittance.somewhere in his

heart there is hatred breeding..a racist breed-He showed his true

colours to his girlfriend.she stood at the door shocked and bewildered.





Veronica; will you be okay? should we wait with you?

Girl: no,i'll be okay.he'll be asleep in a minute...see



A body stretched across the bed,leaving no room for anyone.it laid

motionless.





Duawee:he's gone for the night.so i think you'll be okay from here. we

didn't exchange names..mine's Duawee..this is Veronica

Girl; i know her name.she's Veronica the singer.i saw her sing tonight

on the stage..very good.i really enjoyed your singing.are you a

professional?

Veronica: no i sang in church as a little girl,but no profesional

experience to speak of.

Girl:: well you were great.i cannot even sing for my supper(laughs).

a brightness returns to her cheeks and her smile radiates again.



Girl: my name is Leslie O'Hara. thank you very much for bringing

me..here's the number to the hotel,.as you can see i'm in room 107.call

me sometime..ok.. get home safe and thanks.





Veronica took the information.They left the room's light and walk Into

the night. Veronica wondered what new adventure awaited her. a close

hug from Duawee .Tthe car drove slowly out of the courtyard of the

hotel.Before the car could find its third gear,Veronica had sleep down

pat. Duawee looks over and smiles to himself..a thought enters his head

and he plants it on her lips---- A quick-love-yuh-bad -kiss--.Sleep was

taking him towards his home.he felt like a wreck after kicking those

numbers in his head all day. a night rest would restore his

senses.>>>>radio:

JAZZ



;;;Arturro Tappin is playing.>>>







House ...wake up ..a light..blurred from sleep.door opens ..mind and

feet scrambled to bed.she lies on her back..gets up in a

semi-concious state,brush teeth and quick shower..opps..she forgot to

bring her nightie to the bathroom..a towel surronds and she's in the

room.--QUICK QUICK.. nightie..it's cold...(*&*) A noise.. two people

talking..cannot make out the speech. it must be the television.sleep

awaits her.laughter from the next room ..no television sound..that's

laughter coming from the other room.

An angry mood strikes her.

she screams inside of her head: ""eh eh... no..no no..i know he didn't

bring Wendy in here... no ..he's gonna have to make a choice tonight.



She fixes her hair without a mirror view and walks slowly to the room

next door.the laughter louder now..she's getting madder now.she knocks

and pushes the door at the same time.she wanted to catch the surprise.

Duawee is sitting in a chair at the end of the bed and the laughing

person is sitting up .



Duawee: hi... i was waiting until you were out of the shower..go over

there and look at the baby.



Over in the corner of the room a baby slept soundly.the surprise which

had caught Veronica earlier, now becomes a laughing matter.she,also

laughs at her first thoughts..it triggers her mind again__"i know he

didn't bring Wendy in here".



Veronica: Hi..how are you?.I had a great day today.so much fun.i guess

you guys were laughing at me,singing on stage.



Duawee: No.i was showing the moves used by the last performer.i think

his name was Ole Skule.you remember when he started to move across the

stage,how the young girls ran to the front and starting copying all the

kung fu moves. i like the POT0-STARVER STYLE,now that was funny.go on

Veronica show Marlene how it's done.



Veronica's actions caused a burst of laughter,which made the baby stir.





Marlene; SCHHHHHSSSS.. the baby,don't laugh so loud. go on Veronica do

that again...and I miss um... cheese-on-bread.





Veonica; It was good.there's so much talent hear. i also liked those

three girls who sang CARIBBEAN PEOPLE.that's is such an uplifting

song...and do you know who was on stage too..Brian's girlfriend

Ingrid..the girl can sing..had a few of us in tears with her song...and

today i used my first bajan words.i went up to the bar for water and

lime..he didn't have any limes..so i looked him straight in the eye and

said..."GIMMUH SOME MAUBY"...before i leave i'm going to have some

others for you...come darling..D .. come to bed..you are sleepy..

ok Marl ..we'll talk tomorrow ok..let me get my baby to bed.





Marlene;OK...before you go..i just wanna explain why we are here..my

mother and Lorraine had tuh visit uh sick aunt in another parish,so she

asked Duawee if we could stay here for a few days..i hope i'm not

ruining plans..



Veronica;no..we don't have any plans..we are in love and that's all that

matters right now__( yeah right)_. we'll talk tomorrow.



They leave the light of the room .Their shadows lengthens against the

wall and follows them out.Marlene turns the darkness on.the baby makes a

cute sigh .Marlene lays there thinking_"oh i wish i was there today-the

video taping..then the talent show"_..she saw herself on stage singing

and dancing.. sleep took over and she fell into a sleep baby.



Duawee's shower was over in 4 minutes.a towel dried him as he walk into

the dim-lit bedroom with boxers shorts on.he remembers the surprise from

the morning..the house was quiet.the whistling frogs made their music

outside. he looks at Veronica lying on the bed..her eyes closed.he

eases into bed.his body ached from the hard days work.the numbers and

the numbing sun-heat breaks his body down..the pillow welcomes him.he

turns to kiss her.the bed creaks.the lips touch and the sweetness is a

kiss.a soft kiss,without caress. a sigh .a beating heart and a sleeping

woman..nothing happens.

He goes to sleep.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

::::::::::::::""""""""""""""">>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<***





Morning..baby crying.hurry to the stove and a bottle full of milk for

the baby's thirst..ahhhhh..



The crying wakes the lovers and the bathroom is occupied within

seconds..brush teeth..wash face..check her hair..check himself..out to

the room to continue..

a kiss begins

rising everything

again.

baby crying interrupts and all gets lost. another sigh and the ceilings

reads their thoughts. (ah-well)



Duawee hurries to the shower and breakfast.he kisses the baby..hugs

Marlene and quick kisses Veronica..he's gone.. into the morning..to his

job with the numbers.



Marlene makes breakfast and shouts;VERONICA...BREAKFAST READY.

A sleepy head emerges from the bedroom,slumps down into a chair and

yawwwwwns.a chatter erupts between the two women.yesterday events are

prominent in the conversation.the morning runs smoothly until another

cry from the baby.Marlene rushes to baby and brings her back into the

kitchen.Veronica takes the baby.she feels comfortable.

more conversation and baby gurgling. Veronica loves the small bundle of

joy and the little smile warms her heart.Marlene goes off to use the

phone.



Marlene runs in from Veronica's shouts : THE FOOD...THE STOVE

...MARLEEEEN... not a real disaster,but an avoided one.Marlene runs back

to the phone,tells the voice on the other end,she'll talk later,returns

to the food and the small talk.they are becoming the best of friends.the

baby becomes bored and falls asleep again. The scream from the kettle

tells them it's TEA TIME.baby to bed,pillows on each end, to prevent

falling.kiss on the forehead, to show love.a wish in the heart,for her

own baby.a walk to the the tea room and more laughing.a phone

rings.Marlene runs again.the phone's for Veronica.She thinks it's her

boo.No,it's Leslie O'hara.



Veronica: hi...is everything ok?

Leslie:yes..everything's fine...David..my ex-boyfriend left this

morning. we had a long talk before he left. i could not believe the

hatred within him.i was very surprise at him.anyway he's gone and i'm

staying.

Veronica; how long are you staying for?

Leslie:i'll be here until sunday,soaking up the sun and sipping pina

coladas and rum punch...ohhhh lala and the music. wait till i get back

to New Jersey.i'm going to show my girlfriends how to move the butt

like a windmill...(laughs) i think i've got it.



Veronica;i'm here till sunday also,so maybe we can hook up and do some

shopping and maybe have lunch tomorrow... and yes girl i can do that

dance too.



Leslie: ok..tomorrow is fine.do you still have the number?

Veronica;let me have it.Duawee left it somewhere in the car.



Leslie gives her the number and says goodbye.They end the conversation

with a CLICK.Veronica goes back to the kitchen and the smell of

cooking.The food is laid on the table with soft drinks.it tastes very

good,just as good as Junie.(like mother,like daughter).

the afternoon quickly arrives and brings sleep with it.Their

conversations become jaded.wash dishes.bathroom.teeth cleaned.Veronica

with baby.Marlene on the sofa.TO SLEEP.

The radio adds a nice mood to the quiet house.classical music chopin's

violins- a high /\low bee-sounding concerto in G minor.The sound floats

across the semi-silent room into the kitchen and then in all the

rooms,until it escapes out of the house,into the yard,between the

trees,across the pasture and wet grass...along the little road,next to

the cane fields.the sound spreads into the other houses.it's a rich

sound.an afternoon sound,when all be still in the land.it's a time when

little children sleep..when sleep takes all the noise and muffle the

sound. the sound returns as bright coloured dreams.coloured dreams are

rainbows of life,which later become deja vu'.time moves slooowly. it

drags along with the hot sun.there is scarcely any movement,bar a stray

dog or cat running.human movements are limited around this time.as the

time runs through the sound and becomes 3pm,children are release from

school.they play noise out,into the street..chopin violins breaks into a

violent news item,follow by a bajan beat.. calypso. children running

home.it's a playful noise.it's a noise which floats through the

streets, to the houses,along the road, next to the cane fields,across

the pasture and wet grass..between the trees,into the yard..then it

breaks into the house,into all the rooms and wakes baby.

^^^_CRYYYYYYING.



Veronica wakes up and rocks the baby.she tries the schhhhhing noise.it

does not work.out of the bed,baby in arms. the milk. The baby stops

crying when she notices a familar,stranger face. play words until the

milk's ready. Drink milk...over the shoulder..pat baby's back..

BURRRPPPP...wipe the excess milk from the mouth and play.Veronica is

curious about the little playful noises coming from outside,so she looks

out from the front window.School children uniformed and playful.Girls in

bright blue dresses with yellow shirts and white socks tucked into black

shoes.Boys in khaki short pants, starched without a crease,their shoes

matching the girl's,but with socks roll down.shirt ends loose and

flapping in the wind.The sound of the shoes and laughter makes a

pleasant sound.Two girls notices her and the baby.they approach

cautiously and whisper hello.Hello is sent back with a smile and a

little rocking of the baby.





One girl: what's you name?

Veronica: Veronica....Veronica Hayes. What's your name?

Girl: my name is Camile and this is my friend D'sree.her mother named

her after the singer who lives in England...you know the girl who sang a

love song with Babyface.

Veronica: yes i know her,a very pretty woman.

Other girl: yes,she lived here for awhile.her parents are from

Barbados...where are you from?

Veronica:i'm from America

The two girls are bewildered...it is not as their mind has

suggested.she was not from Barbados,so she's not going to be a

MRS.MAYNARD.they look disappointed.they were reading Veronica's

face,trying to place a resemblance.none to be found.Marlene enters the

picture.sleep still in her eyes.

Marleen: Veronica yuh coulda wake muh up.

Camile; is that your baby? are you related to Mr.Maynard?

Veronica: no,it's not my baby...I'm Mr. Maynard's friend.

Both girls: He's your chossel den...alright ...(sing song)

(singing and dancing) ---Mr.Maynard's got uh girlfriend...uh

chossel..uh boo..he's getting married soon...how about you?---

Veronica,the baby and Marlene laughs at their antics.some other school

children join them.Questions are thrown all around.Veronica loses some

of the words and throws them at Marlene.Marlene answers all of the

questions in a tuff bajan accent.A force-ripe boy,age about eleven makes

eyes with marlene,who cuts her eye and sucks her teeth (schupps).he

looks away,feeling stupid.his friends laugh at him.The girls want to

hold the baby.Their wishes are answered,with a *BE CAREFUL* following.

The baby is juggled around in the afternoon sun.she gets fed up and

starts to cry.Veronica takes her and makes the shussshing noise..baby

quiet again.



puh-lang..puh-lang ..de bread man.



AN aroma came with the van.The sweet smell of sweet bread.the bread man

took the money and in return gave out jam-puffs with gauva jelly seeping

out of the soft crust,sugar laced on top.(((-BITE-)))

turnovers..sugar glazed on top.in the middle, chipped coconut mixed with

more sugar.(((BITE))). the taste sweet and challenging.some coconut and

sugar escapes and falls from your mouth and your hands.savor.

cut drops, yellow with raisins dotted all around...lead pipes..a sweet

coconut bread,long and sugary. salt bread(don't let the name fool

you,there is no salt,just a soft crusty bun,which holds more of your

dreams))..salt bread hold cheese..CHEESE-CUTTER.(bite).it holds ham

.HAMCUTTER.(bite).it holds fish..FISHCUTTER.(bite). two fishcakes in

between a salt bread is called UH LIFESAVER...choice bread..sandwich

loaf .pudding bread..rock cake.. so many different breads..((DID

SOMEONE SAY ZEPHERINS)).A long, ice-cold, glass of lemonade or coconut

water smooths the journey through the stomach.





Homework,school children,stop play and go home.the books have to be

read and filled.They depart the scene with little good-byes and long

looks of tomorrow.soon the street was empty.

Veronica looked out at the deserted scene."quite fasinating" she

thought.just a few minutes ago a crowd of fresh faces with laughter had

entered her life,time had spoken for her and they had replied in kind.it

was a small good time.she enjoyed the company.later a van would

appear,they would surround the van,eat,then disappear."

"would i see these same faces tomorrow"__-

Marlene,the baby and Veronica leaves the heat of the house and walk

outside. A bus loaded with people came to a sudden stop. 50 yards from

where they were walking.A scamble to disembark.a fat woman was taking

her own time.her basket had landed on a man,who started cursing. the fat

woman stopped him with one of her verbs.a burst of laughter from the

other occupants.the driver reeves the engine,displaying his impatience.

he squeezes the gas pedal a bit and hit the brakes at the same time. the

bus jumps and stops suddenly.the fat woman falls in the man's lap. the

man,135 pounds,cannot lift up a 218 pounds woman.the weight is too

much.he starts to moan.the fat woman turns evil and pretends she cannot

move.she laughs.he moans.the bus jerks.she moves. he moves. the bus

jerks.the bodies imitates the bus' movements.the laughter stops.the man

moans.the woman moans.the woman looks in his eyes.the man looks in

touble. she gets up from his lap and steps from the bus.the man has

bought a dog__(an english saying)__.the woman bends over and picks up

her basket.the man looks at himself and then at the woman.the woman

looks good.she turns around to greet his eyes.his breath is on her .a

question-"can uh help yuh wid yuh basket?"

A reply "sure".he lifts the basket and his hopes. she walks behind him

to check him out.a thought enters her head "eeemmmm uh wonder ef he does

moan all de time".the walk is short. they pass Veronica, Marlene

and the baby.he nods his head.she is still looking at him.they enter the

house.she closes the door behind her.it's been a long time since a man

had entered her home. the only men who came through her door were-the

bread man,whenever he wanted to settle her account of money owed..the

garbage men,who always wanted "uh drink fuh de old bones" and an old man

who used to come on saturday night ,talk and drink her rum.after the

*old geezer* was gone she would feel so lonely.Today another man,a small

nice looking man, has come through her door and into her life.the sweat

of the day clung to their bodies .thoughts are in their heads,but a cold

shower would remove the thoughts and pushed them straight into

drink-mountgay rum __straight,shaken and stirred.



*****%%%%******

the water flowed and a faint moan came through

a galloping of horses/heartbeats

crashed against the wall in the shower. a body rushes into a cold sweat

and within the cold sweat another body burns with desire.

the water flowed.

a tired kiss and movement towards the beginning and the end.

bodies wreck from the day's journey

finding a way and a strength

the water flows

giving life

back again

it's measured

in small glances

with warm invites

teasing....

the stealing

of flowers

the water flows.

numb and nervous

reaching into pockets

and losing frustration

the water flows

then drips......

******%$#@!@~~~*******

Curled bedsprings with arched backs against pillows.

a series begins.

the first kiss slow and trembling.

the second kiss smacks of eagerness.

eyes closed ..a sudden surge of wet and want.

an abundance of wishes outstetched.

SIGH.

high.

knotted against the backdrop of a mirror view,two embrace.

RAPTURE.

there, in the silent afternoon/room ..a kiss begins over and over and

over.

a body quakes.

a lake of fire surrounds and two in desire dwell,drowning and becoming

one.

sea saw.play in the shadows of late afternoon.

a serious new-found love.

a discovery.

rocking./sea-saw

juggled and paw.

scatch fingers moved down back center.

small mountains discovered and conquered by lips and saliva.

gasping air in sudden moans,bearing down in rocking-sea-saw fashion.

(remember when?... the first time)

no noise from lips.not a spoken word.

just the squeaking bedsprngs.

closed windows shuts out the sounds.

eyes open wide towards the ceiling..gasping air.

cheeks close and whisper.... a shortness of breath.

18 minutes elapse into calapse

trembling, tight around the midriff of now.

NOW.. held tighter in between thighs.

another arched back weakens and falls .

THERE, they went.

into a love well spent.







Evening comes with its suddeness and lays down to sleep.

two heads on pillow, with dreams deep.





((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))



Veronica pushes the baby's pram along the road.grass hung over the road

and scratch her legs.it tickles.she reaches down to swat the itch.a car

horn catches a glimpse and shouts ..brrrrrrrraammmm...praaammmm.the men

in the car shouts;LOOKA DE FOOD

Marlene shouts: LOOKA DE FOOLS.

Veronica is unaware of what's going on.she thinks Marlene knows the men

in the car.The baby is sitting and enjoying her ride through the

streets.A few people greet them.Young and old women with baskets on

their heads,speak and hurry on.They have finish in the fields,but their

husbands and boyfriends will come home hungry and must be fed.so

now,they must hurry to the kitchen.The excitement of seeing people

speaking and rushing home, grips Veronica.people so friendly.she

questions Marlene""is everyone on the island always so friendly?""

Marlene: about eighty percent.It is something our fathers and mothers

and their fathers and mothers instilled in all of us.RESPECT. you must

speak to old ladies.you must nod your head at old men.you must greet

your peers with a *hey* or if yuh really know them you must greet them

with uh *how yuh gine*(how are you doing?).i was brought up that

way.Duwaee was brought up that way.Lorraine will bring up this baby the

same way.RESPECT.some things have changed over the years.the young

ones..some from my generation have lost direction.i love to party,but if

my mother looks at me,one day and tells me i am not to leave the house.

i'm taking off muh clothes and uh gine tuh muh room,sulk uh bit,read uh

book,then when uh get tired poking out muh mouth,i gine and sit down wid

she and watch television.yuh see muh mudda get dese feelings

sometimes.whenever she wakes up and feels uh certain way,she does get

frighten.she seh her mother,my grandmother, died and lef she wid the

signs.My grandmother could predict things.she mek muh frighten one

day.she seh if uh din learn at school,then uh Bugga Boo Man was gonna

hold me and tek me way.i din pay she muh mind.so uh act like uh know

evvathing.one day uh walking home from school and uh talking tuh

muhself.uh just happen to look back and uh see dis old man, wid an old

hat on his head,shouting at me... girl uh just tek off through the cane

fields. uh run and lef muh shoes. uh run straight into muh room,tek out

de bible,pray and then sat and read fuh three hours straight.uh had to

tell muh sister to go and get muh shoes.All de time muh mudda and

grandmudda laughing at me.muh grandmudda tells me, three days later,

that de man shouting at me,that day, was my deceased grandfather,her

husband and he was shouting for me to stop my foolishness and get

serious.That's why i am what i am, today.A lot of muh girlfriends envy

me.uh does get a lot of things from muh mudda and she does let me go

anywhere uh want,within reason.i'm waiting for a scholarship from

america,so uh might see you again soon.yes,uh would say this is what

makes this country beautiful..RESPECT.



Veronica;ok,i didn't understand some of the words you used..what's a

Bugga Boo Man...it's sounds like all black people have these type of

stories.



they laughed.the road had new patches of tar and looked like a jig-saw

puzzle.they walked for about two miles and turn around.the smell of

freshly cut canes ran up their nose.Three young boys came out oif the

cane fields and gave them cane.the cane was peeled and ready to

eat.Marlene bit hers first.Veronica watch the juice falls all over her

and unto the baby's hand.the baby looks up and smiles.Veronica takes her

piece of cane,places it between her lips,between her teeth and bites

down...ahhhhhh she cries.her teeth surprise at it's harshness.she

watches Marlene again,then she tries it again.this time the sweetness of

the cane juice runs down her lips and unto her hands.she makes a

sqeezing sound,just like Marlene.the boys walk away.they will peel as

many cane as possible and then go home.Veonica's jaws begin to hurt.she

thinks to herself_"maybe Duawee would like to help her eat it later."

they return to the house. School children are disembarking a bus .some

of them speak.some of them don't.some girls are shouting at each

other.some students,in the bus, are making so much noise,the driver is

thinking of retiring early.some girls are flirting with the

conductor.some boys are shouting out instructions on how to approach a

mathematical formula.the bus drives away frantically.

__SILENCE__.

Marlene and one of the young girls know each other.she introduces the

girl to Veronica.they talk for awhile,but the evening is closing so

fast,they rush to their homes.The baby is taken from the pram and placed

on the floor.They wait for Duawee to arrive home.Ten minutes later his

car comes to a halt.Veronica goes to the door and greets him with a

kiss.she takes his briefcase.He Look tired.He sits and eats very

little.Veronica's toes on his toes brings a slight smile to his face.she

whispers in his ear**=**something about later tonight and catching up

with where they had left off.He looks at her with a half smile.The

plates are removed and a glass of ice water sippped.



Evening news..politics...crime...education..around the region made

strange bed-fellows..but it's the growing state of what tne islands

have now become..at the end of everyday..news bring home the reality of

life..in these islands --THERE'S DANGER EVERYWHERE,.EVERYDAY.



()()()_(())_(())_()()()





night falls all over the place,street lights come on...little children

hurry to homework,a cup of tea(milo) and bed.the street lights sheds

it's life on gambling men,in a vice trap with dice. and words are

repeated in a sing-song style--- BABY WANTS BOOTIES ...WIFEY WANTS

PANTIES AND DE CHILDREN WANT RICE AND PEAS --NOW FEED THEM DICE..FEED

DEM DICE..... THE street light shows church-women whispering to the

lord,a cymbal beat under their arms and within their hearts.. A church

woman sees her son in the crowd and remembers.HE is on his knees

praising the lord and crying..now she has become MOTHER BO PEEP..she has

lost her sheep and only wickedness can find him..he sees his mother and

looks away quickly.

--NO TWO EYES SHALL MEET,NOT AT HOME,NOT ON THE ROAD..WHEN HE

SLEEPS..SHE BE GONE..WHEN SHE RETURNS..HE BE GONE..WHEN SUNDAY COMES HE

BE SLEEPING LATE..NO CHURCH PRAYER SHALL BURN HIS HEART ..NO MOTHER'S

LOVE WILL CHANGE HIM...ONLY A DICE CAN MAKE THINGS RIGHT IN HIS

HEAD...THERE IS NO HOPE IN HIS LIFE..one night he turned in his sleep

--nightmarish-- his stomach turns/burns and air collects his hunger..and

he begs forgiveness in secret..so only God will hear.. he flirts with

the devil and gets caught up in the washing of money ..drug money. he

has spent some of the money and must get it back before 10am. so the

street light must be his guardian,because no one else can save

him..$530.00 is a lot of money and his mother doesn't have it...$530.00

is a lot of money and he may have to steal it.In the night he stoops

with a burning desire to win...to win his life..tonight.



The darkness travels along with the light. it surrounds the houses and

retreats wherever light abounds. voices stir within the light,in the

houses.televisions and radios blare out their sounds. Their sounds so

strong ..devouring conversation.. no one talks anymore.media words and

action entrall the masses..they become hypnotised...they become slaves

to the television's action and the radio's violence.this is where it

begings.the society's changes are reflected from the television

screens.the words lay deep with adolescent's dreams.words become action

and action becomes an aperture of the future.the future becomes bleak

and the present is the future.so the days are spent.. without repent____

without apology.

__stealing,gambling,cursing,drugging,raping,shooting.__ bywords before

the judges and juries .. pleading innocent.all seems lost in the

islands, where preachers paved words with disguised intent..all seems

lost when school children become force-riped men and women ..all seems

lost when greed takes over and people try to keep up with the Jones' and

are now left alone in divorce/bankruptcy court.

(_DO YUH HEAR DE SOUND?_)..all seems lost when the leaders pied piper

their followers into cultish behavior...all seems lost when places

become biblical Sodom and Gomorrah..all seems lost when death comes

a-calling and Aids strike the young..heart attacks teenagers.. and the

young and the old go forth to answer GOD. ALL IS NOT LOST..it just seems

that way..the way they portray you,will make you act the fool..don't let

them paint you..don't let them critique you..don't let dem curse

you..please.. please ..don't let them.. You are not lost,you were always

here..a beautiful reflection of yourself..a flower amongst thorns..you

are you..don't let no one throw bad influences on you...

YOUNG MAN/WOMAN PLEASE I BEG OF YOU.

LISTEN TO YOUR HEART AS IT BEATS

LISTEN TO THE WIND AS IT BLOWS

WATCH THE RIVER AS IT FLOWS

FEEL THE HEAT OF THE SUN ON YOUR FACES.

WATCH THE SUNSET FALL FROM DISTANCES.

BECOME ONE WITH YOURSELVES.

BE YOURSELF AND NO ONE ELSE.

=when life threatens you with hunger and there is no money in your

pocket..give thanks and praises for your life...thank the lord for

another day,because in another time it would be fading away.

COME.LET ME SHOW YOU___

In another world skeleton children of Africa and warn-torn children of

Bosnia, don't have time to pray..they fall and rise,stumble and dies..

everyday..no time to pray...no time is left because at anytime life

becomes death.no time is left..their bellies are empty and their eyes

become deep-begging symbols.no food today..a little yesterday..maybe

tomorrow..maybe. In the war of words the children are silent..they have

no say..bombs drop everyday..ethnic cleansing. MURDER-GENOCIDE with no

place to hide,they don't want to die..but bullets with family names

break down doors,smash through windows,killing everyone in the

room...ETHNIC CLEANSING..the bullets even kills the widow.(MURDER)_(DO

YOU HEAR THE SOUND?). the night reaches out with dark hands.it's lonely

in their world.hungry african..frighten bosnian..goes to sleep without

genuflections.

___*___

African child's hunger ends tonight..the journey is over..life

ebbs..ebbs in the dust of tomorrow..in the nape of the night.. in the

distance thunder of heaven..there is no beating heart..no more crying in

the wilderness..no more searching..the bridge is over..the bridge is

over..the heart still..the eyes fold...the night becomes permanent.



_____****____

Bosnian's child runs as the stray bullet finds his PA. PA is dead.He

cried from a blown out shelter,under his mother's arms.His father's

death so senseless.a hurt within him grows and water flows.down by a

river infested with dead bodies..hide and run..run and hide.. a new game

of life and death..((NO SCHOOL TODAY,BUT CAN'T GO OUT AND PLAY.))

But four days of journeying..his mother,his sister and his bare

trembling bones..the soldiers.. foreign gave food and push them

along..no time for conversation..a war is happening..a house 28 miles

from grandmother's grave is where they laid for six days..the night

scatched like hay upon a bed full of sleep/nightmarish dreams..and the

broken door flapped in the wind. ..SUDDEN GUNS..shouts barking out and

mother widow ,mother shelter, mother mother dead too.

+_______

MOTHER...MOTHER.. Two little voices shout.... there's no answer..so he

runs and his sister fell in his arms, at his feet..slow motion.. guns

still barking dogs, spitting death and sister hangs in your head.. RUN!

RUN! CHILD RUN FOR YOUR LIFE.. twenty yards and his breath chokes

him,because his father's death..his mother's death ..his sister's death

and their love and life pulling him in... R U N

run..r.u.n..n.n...r.u.nn..un..un//

unnn ()>> r.u.....u.nnnnn.

nn

n.

Bullets enters and life leaves.

_

((BOSNIAN/AFRICAN CHILDREN AND ALL CHILDREN,ALL OVER THE WORLD DYING IN

THE FACE OF MY PITY,I DIE FOR YOU AND PRAY FOR YOU.I DO NOT HAVE

ANSWERS.))



**CHILDREN OF AMERICA..WESTERN EUROPE..CARIBBEAN..ELSEWHERE..TAKE

HEED..WHILE YOU ARE OUTSIDE YOUR WORLD AND THE MUSIC HITTING YOU AND THE

DRUGS ARE MESSING UP YOUR BRAIN AND YOU THINK YOUR LIFE IS LOST..FIND A

MINUTE, ONE DAY, TO LISTEN TO THE WIND AS IT WHISPERS TO YOU___** we are

at peace**__ we are at peace**.



it's the soul of dead children who stood no chance,but prayed for the

life you take,so much, for granted.



(((WRITER'S NOTE_--- excuses made for the young are just that EXCUSES.

In far off years- .i grew up with the poor..i grew up poor..we saw the

cowboys on television,gangters too..we played our game,using sticks as

guns..we played dead.. we played and left it there,in the past..we grew

up to be men,and some of us strayed and did't make it..Today i stand and

see a wasted journey for the young. i could tell them stories, but they

wouldn't listen,..the shouting and barking guns are all they

hear,between their ears.))







TO BE CONTINUED

..DE DEV..



TO friend Leslie O'hara..LOVE ALWAYS.


Story Index Next Page Prev Page