I Used To Be A Dreamer - Lyndon Queripel

I used to be a dreamer
I had faith to keep
But now I just can’t sleep
The dawn will break
And I’m still awake
The Sun will rise in my eyes

I used to be a dreamer
And you know it’s true
That I had visions too
Now there’s a part
Deep in my heart
Where memories just freeze

I used to be a dreamer
Sowing seeds to reap
But now I just can’t sleep
The shadows fall
On the wall
On my bed and in my head

I used to be a dreamer
Lost in my own mind
But I’ve been left behind
The time has passed
Much too fast
Where did it go I don’t know.

Lyndon Queripel

Image : Pixabay - LeandroDeCarvalho

Ten Days Before Christmas 2021 - Kathy Figueroa

'Twas ten days before Christmas
The weather was drear
And people in Canada
Were experiencing fear
 
A sense of gloom
Was felt everywhere
As Virus Omicron
Hung in the air
 
New government restrictions
Took more rights away
And the pandemic made everyone
Fretful, not gay
 
People socially distanced
They stayed well apart
And the strain on their lives
Made an ache in their heart
 
There wasn’t a lot
That filled folks with joy
It seemed daily news
Was designed to annoy
 
The media blared
That predictions were bleak
And a third booster shot
Was what jabbed folks should seek
 
For the virus multiplied
Incredibly fast
And it looked like forever
The pandemic would last
 
So over the season
Was cast a pall
And people didn’t feel
Very merry at all
 
Businesses floundered
Money was tight
As the pandemic’s end
Was nowhere in sight
 
Prices went up
People were concerned
Things started to cost
Much more than folks earned
 
Breakups and suicides
Were on the rise
Propaganda spread facts
But some were shown to be lies
 
It was a time without merriment
Without social life, without mirth
A time to make you worry
About man’s fate on this Earth
 
People began to wonder
“How will this end?”
It was like humanity
Needed a friend
 
But as Christmas Day
Drew nearer and nearer
The true reason to celebrate
Became clearer and clearer
 
It wasn’t about presents
Parties and food
It was more about
Heartfelt gratitude
 
It was about faith
And miracles wrought
About good news for man
That Jesus Christ brought
 
A way to ease
Burdens of the soul
A way to make
Broken spirits whole
 
So we celebrate
His compassion and caring
His way of life
Of kind deeds and sharing
 
Though times are rough
And, of the virus, we’re fearful
Remembering “the reason for the season”
Will help us feel cheerful!
 
No matter the race
Culture, or creed
Good news is something
That we ALL need

Kathy Figueroa

Image : Pixabay - GlauchauCity

Hope - Sarah Alexander

I am old now
My eyes peer out from wrinkled flaps of skin
Age bleached in a crumpled canvas

The sisters tend me silently
Bringing with them the coldness of hours spent in solitary prayer
I have walked this earth for centuries
My penance for robbing its innocence

Long ago I danced with my sisters, our feet
bruising the grass, our voices raised to celebrate the passing of the seasons
A time gone by
When we found truth in the stars and sky

But a multitude of voices called to me, plaintive and gilded with honey
I listened. I reached out a hand and in a moment the casket was emptied

None but I now bear witness to the plague unleashed
That has crushed our souls, buried our children and twisted our thoughts ever since
Then in the midst a single voice spoke
It said let me out sister for I am Hope

A small winged creature whiter than foam on the sea brushed my cheek gently and drifted away
I am Hope - look to me in your darkness and pain
I see your sorrow. I know your name.

So I wait now, my spirit housed in this tattered shroud
I wait for Hope to return, give me peace and light my way home.

Sarah Alexander


Image : Pixabay - Sinousxl

Land of Hope and Glory - Marcel Le Clerc

This...
This is England
land of hope
and glory
3 years on from that semi-final and this time
this time
it'll be a different story

The planets have aligned
It's written in the stars
We gave the world the beautiful game
Now's the time to take back what is rightfully ours.

Kane is gonna score
The three lions are going to roar
We're going to beat the unbeatable
Defeat the undefeatable
Achieve...
The unachievable
Become kings of the game once more...

This….
is England
land of hope -
and glory

COME ON ENGLAND !!

Marcel Le Clerc

Image : Pixabay - dimitrisvetsikas1969

See Marcel read the World Cup version here on Youtube.

Vaccine Queue - Stephen A. Roberts

A year on now from the first onslaught
By the invisible enemy that can’t be fought
By normal means or clapping hands
Or sealing ourselves from other lands
Sometimes it seemed like no progress was made
We were digging for victory with a broken spade
Perhaps though now we will defy the odds
The fickle will of random evil gods
With science now turned to beneficial use
Our hope lies in the vaccination queues

Stephen A. Roberts

Isolation - Diane Scantlebury

In a room alone,
In touch with the world
Yet curiously apart,
On a singles holiday,
Without leaving
The confines of home,
A staycation in the rawest
Most literal sense,
Here time marches forward
Without consideration,
Punctuated only by room service,
Provided selflessly
By beloved ones,
Being spoilt by their concern,

Soon one tires
Of banal media entertainment,
Switch off and just listen,
To the rhythm of the rain
Tap dancing on the roof,
The swish of tyres
Speeding over wet tarmac,
Voices drifting in
From the unobtainable outside,
Feel the novelty
Of being still
And simply breathing,

Isolation allows time,
Time to rediscover and reevaluate,
To reset the mind,
To miss the warmth and comfort
Of human contact,
And perhaps appreciate more
The ones you love.

Diane Scantlebury

You Can’t Lock Us Down - Tony Bradley

The air smells fresh,
there’s little exhaust fumes
and listen, to all those birds
It’s only ugly modern life,
that’s bereft,
the artist’s still have their brushes,
and the Poets still have their words.

Tony Bradley
Image : Pixabay - Ngo Minh Tuan

2020 - Ian Duquemin

I thank two thousand and twenty 
As it really wasn't that bad
The gifts that it gave were plenty 
If you think of the treasures we had
Like silence, and time for thinking 
Rest for our weary bones
Love to share with our families
In the comfort we call our homes 
Air to breathe, unpolluted 
Strangers now saying hello 
Helping each other, and lending a hand 
The stars once again on show
A year is not something to squander 
As another is now in our past 
So I'm hoping the next one will be much the same
And the lessons we're learning will last 

Ian Duquemin

Xmas Won’t Be Cancelled - Diane Scantlebury

Santa’s sleigh’s been decommissioned
Rudolf furloughed, left in a field to roam,
Overweight, over seventy, Santa should be shielding
Boris has told him to stay safe at home,
When travel corridors closed, the final fly in the ointment,
Santa devised a cunning plan,
To bring some cheer and avoid disappointment,
He’d disguise his sleigh as a shiny, red delivery van,

Xmas wouldn’t be cancelled by Covid
He was determined not to be beaten,
When there were presents to be delivered
And mince pies to be eaten,
He’d follow the rules
As he set about his task,
And over his beard 
Wear a tinsel trimmed mask,
He’d put each parcel by the door 
Ring the bell in every instance,
Stand well back when he heard footsteps
To keep a social distance,

Santa would do his duty
As he’d done every year with pride,
He’d make the nation’s children happy
When virus forced them to stay inside,
For if Xmas isn’t to be cancelled
We all have our part to play,
Listen to the science and be sensible
So that brave Santa can save the day!

Diane Scantlebury

No More Hugs - Diane Scantlebury

Don’t want to think
About dying just yet,
But when the daily death toll rises
There’s no safe bet,
Who’d have thought
A venture outside snatched,
A brief breath of fresh air
To catch,
Could be my last,
No more hugs
Or meetings,
No more kisses
Just silent greetings,
From afar
Through a misted window
I can only wave and stare,
At my loved ones
Standing out there,
Mouthing reassuring words
That I can’t hear,
No more hugs
Just an air kiss,
Warm embraces
Sorely missed,
From afar
Along with the food parcel
On the doorstep
Separation we must endure,
In hope that normality
Soon will return,
And there’ll be hugs
Once more.

Diane Scantlebury

Ring-a-Round-a-Rosie 2020 - Ian Duquemin

One… Two… Three… Four
Wipe the handles on the door
Two… Three… Four… Five
Wear a mask to stay alive
Three… Four… Five… Six
Keep your distance, do not mix
Four… Five… Six… Seven
This is just a sign from heaven
Five… Six… Seven… Eight
Everybody isolate
Six… Seven… Eight… Nine
Stay inside and we'll be fine
Seven… Eight… Nine… Ten
Soon we will be free again
Take the time to sing this song
As healing keeps us safe and strong

Ian Duquemin

The Queue March 24th 2020 - Trudie Shannon

We stand in a line, then zig zag our way slowly towards the doors.
The sun is shining and shadows seem to grow longer with waiting
But patience grows too and voices mingle with easy contentment
Happy that, thank goodness, it’s not raining.
The sky is a cloudless blue, where crows and jackdaws,
Chiffchaffs and sparrows cavort and chatter.
And way up on high above us all
A skylark sings joyously.
The queue moves oh so slowly towards the doors
A young couple test out dance steps
An old man leans against a bollard
A woman reassures a vulnerable person that all will be well.
Conversations between strangers start to unfold
Smiles are exchanged and every tilt of the head conveys kindness.
We stand in a line, then zig zag our way slowly towards the doors.
Two by two as in Noah’s Ark we enter the emporium
Greeted by masked staff who explain their roles as assistants
Everyone is careful to keep the required distance
There is no push and shove, no selfish overloading
We just stand in a line and wait our turn.
The sun is shining
And way up high the skylark is still singing.

Trudie Shannon

A Cup of Tea - Kathy Figueroa

There are times when weighty matters
Must give way to much lighter stuff
Instead of news of gloom and doom
You want to hear some happy “fluff”

It’s a self-preservation thing
Designed to keep you hale and sane
As the world burns and stomach turns
And U.S. war drums beat …again

So make yourself a cup of tea
Maybe get out your sewing kit
Sit next to the kitchen window
Breathe deeply and relax a bit

How stately stand the trees outside
How pretty are the lights of town
How grand the sky that opens wide
How pure the snowflakes drifting down

Kathy Figueroa

2020 - Ian Duquemin

Something good is sure to happen
Wars and famine all to cease
Tears to stop, and hatred ending
Bring about a world of peace
Love your neighbour, give a smile
Show the prayers you have are plenty
Make a change, and let it flow
And flood the world in 2020

Ian Duquemin

Zero Carbon Journey - Stephen A. Roberts

The new Saviour is here:
a girl child this time
was it prophesied?

For I have not seen it
in the runes
or written in the scrolls
scriptures or tablets.

That she would sail a boat
across America's moat
to save the World
so you won't have to.

Stephen A. Roberts

New Year's Wish - Ian Duquemin

So Christmas is over
And it brings a new year
For some times of plenty
But some dreaded fear
Will wishes been made
Be of greed or of peace
How many have wished
That destruction will cease?
Is new year a time
Where we all celebrate
Just a day when we smile
To disguise what we hate
Then fall back to hatred
So many prefer
Simply wishing for heartache
And bad to occur
It's another new year
Where the world is a mess
Do you turn a blind eye?
Or stand up and address
A child has just died
While I'm writing these lines
But the sales bring hordes
That's the sign of the times!
Another year over...
Another year ends...
So I ask you wish wisely
My most thoughtful of friends

Ian Duquemin

Sundance - Lyndon Queripel

Your shadow escaped capture
Now your spirit is reconciled
You've got to find your roots
Before you are exiled
Freedom is a word
That a lot of people use
When they think they’ve got
Nothing left to lose

Sundance in the morning
Sing away the rain
Ignore the early warning
Once again

There’s gold in the hills
And diamonds in the dust
There’s silver in your smile
And wander in your lust
There’s a promise broken
And an air of mistrust
With a rainbow on the rise
That’s just turning to rust

Sundance for the seed
Clouds obscure the view
Will the sky you need
Be cleared to blue

The moment of truth
Can no longer be delayed
Let go of your fear
You don’t have to be afraid
Peace is the time and space
Between all of the wars
Fought to the bitter end
For an almost forgotten cause

Sundance for the children
Take them by the hand
Pray that they will listen
They will understand.

Lyndon Queripel

Land of Hope and Glory - Marcel Le Clerc

They call this the land of hope and glory
Another 4 years
Another world cup
This time it's going to be a different story

The planets are aligned
It's written in the stars
We gave the world the beautiful game
Now's the time to take back what is rightfully ours.

The three lions are going to roar
Kane is gonna score
We're going to beat the unbeatable
Defeat the undefeatable
And become kings of the world once more...

ENGLAND !

Marcel Le Clerc

See Marcel read his poem here on Youtube.

Windrush - Diane Scantlebury

I’m going on a cruise m’darlin’
To see what’s new,
A big adventure to the mother country,
Far away from our Jamaica’s shores so sunny,
To the land of milk and honey,

I saw an advert m’darlin’
Big and bold print,
In the Kingston news today,
A once in a lifetime opportunity
A call from far away,

I’m going to sail on a big ship m’darlin’
Heading off to the great unknown,
The war’s over and there’s plenty to do,
We’ll be welcomed on those streets of gold,
That’s the story I’ve been told,

I’m sailing on the Windrush m’darlin’
Don’t cry I won’t be gone too long,
Kiss my children
Don’t let their memory of me fade,
I’ll be back soon, when my fortune’s made.

Diane Scantlebury

On This Day - Kathy Figueroa

Let us celebrate the goodness of Man
The higher qualities and noble deeds
Let all people rejoice with poems and songs
For that’s what this weary world surely needs

Let’s think of what’s kind, all that’s beautiful
Though burdens of sorrow render it hard
The weight of cold darkness can be lifted
To warm hearts and souls of those sorely scarred

So let us make a conscious decision
To magnify all that’s good, and rejoice
Though life’s troubles will be cast upon us
Triumph over suffering is our choice

Kathy Figueroa

"On This Day" was published in the January 11, 2018, issue of The Bancroft Times newspaper.