Everywhere meh look, all meh see
Is suffering and bare tragedy
Rasta nuh blind, Rasta nuh deaf
Not even ah loaf ah bread pon ah shelf

War, bust we skin, ah left scar
While politician ah drive fancy car
Meh pickanny hungry
Baby madda angry
Everywhere meh look all meh see
Is blood and bare treachery

For survival, youth turn cannibal
Inna dem head, positivity nuh linger
Pick up de gun, tun trigger finger

Guide them oh Jah
Protect dem likkle ones
Dem ah de future
Our salvation, our cure.
Selah...

Death comes swiftly, I heard them say
A creature of the night that wanders the day
A vile and worthless immortal created by the gods to end our suffering
Make haste serpent! Take me away!
Alone and cold in the rain, I lay
I heard him coming, from the abyss, screeching, slithering…
Suddenly, I felt a hand pressing against my gaping wound
And a warm breath against my cheek
“Fear not my love, worry no more, the sparrow will take you home”
It was her, my redemption, and no more was I alone
“Pay no mind to the trickster in black that cometh yonder
“Just follow the sparrow my love lest he rip your soul asunder”  

He’s had arrived, I could smell the putrid odor emanating from his presence.
Death was here! The relentless being!
Hissing and rattling, depicting his dominance  
“Where are you oh sparrow?” I cried frantically as he dragged me away.
Over the ravine and into the blackness
I was awoken by the grass brushing against my face.
Too tired to open my eyes, I cried for I knew, death would never let go
As I felt its grip tighten, in fear I opened my eyes just in time to see,
The millions lying lifeless beside me
What a shame, the sparrow never came
Life or death, it’s all the same

Lucifer met me one night,
And in my hand he placed his torch,
Burning will vengeful delight;
Commanding that I build his church.

Above the rock, he sought refuge;
Promising glory and golden beams.
I could not plainly refuse,
For he the only consoler it seems.

Angrily, I exed him with the rock
And built his temple from scratch,
I watched my victims run amuck;
Kissing the dirt, I had no match.

Now, my mission is complete,
But I alone, suffered defeat.

Letters to Maria

Dear Maria, I’ve battled hail, fire and brimstone.
My back grows weary, dry are my bones.
Clink! Tick! Bang!
I shrivel, I hesitate, I follow their command.
“Will soon be over,” I hear them say.
Lies I tell you, as clear as day.
In open fields I have to run, scorching my back, the naked sun.
“Will soon be over”, I hear them say.
“Lord, take me back safely to my Maria,” I pray.

Dear Maria, it’s been a while.
It will never be over, I knew it was always a lie.
My nights are long and the days are evil…
The devil is real, he lives amongst men.
He controls their swords and he’s the ink within the pen.
Today I saw a crow, and its wings I envied.
“Carry this letter to my love” I begged.
A harbinger of death I suspected, for upon its forehead was the colour red.
My dear, I’ve see torture and I’ve seen death…
But I will make it back I swear, on my last breath.

Dear Maria, gone are my hopes.
I lay on this battlefield, I’m surrounded by the shells of once great men.
I have fought and I have endured, to defend.
Kiss my moon oh Maria, and tell her how bravely I fought.
Make her your world as you were once mine.
We will meet again- this is a warrior’s vow.

Farewell my love, he calls out to me- he needs me now!
Away I toss my sword, and to this world- I take a bow.

Slowly, quietly, the night turns into day
As I look towards the heavens in dismay
Clasping my hands, teary-eyed, I began to pray

Forgive me lord for I am but a worthless soul
I’m filled with their blood, their sweat, their spit!”
I was once young, my rage was extreme
I stood in my circle and laughed amidst their screams

Forgive me lord for I am but a lost soul
Drifting amongst demons, my demons, their eyes ever so cold
All the lives I have wasted, the world once laid at my feet
Strongest of them all! I snatched, I ripped, never faced defeat!
Until now…

Forgive me lord as I bow, I am weak
I silenced so many and now I am unable to speak
But like an unexpected storm she came
A soul that tamed my beast

I saw the light and for the first time, I had found peace
She held my arm, looked into my eyes and nodded
My blade crashed against stone
She vowed that I would never be alone, never be apart
She washed away the blackness that once engulfed my heart

Forgive me lord, why did my storm have to die?
For the souls that I have taken, you should have chosen me
My eyes are now open for love has tamed this slayer
Take heed lost souls and hear this old sinner’s prayer.

Sinners know his name
And believers know his wrath.
Children grimace in pain;
Hearing his name that ripples
Through spacious veins.
Temptation is his tool;
His recruiting stick
That tears humanity a hole.
Upon the spit, he roasts charred
Splits of souls; feeding fiends
Their portions prime and right.
Do not pretend you know not
This vicious fiend: he that lingers
Deep within and ignites only pain
-- We all know his name.

Terra trembles in terror
As she looks upon her form:
Burnt and bruised by greedy children,
Who drink her lifeblood raw.

Even as she spins in despair,
She hopes they will someday care.
But they return with needles
To take more than their share.

Even as her sucklings greedily
draw blood from her depleted *******,
Terra still gives in.
She gives in to their unwanted caress.

Deeper and deeper they go,
Imposing upon her great sorrow.
She looks on as they carve her bones
And extract her golden marrow.

"Terra will soon be gone," I hear them say.
But what of the price?
What of the price
Her children will someday have to pay?

One day they will see your worth.
Discarded by all, you stood hurt.
Yes, deaf they may be to your plea,
But one day, their ears will see.

Do not sink my love, in despair,
Just know that life is not always fair.
Tis' a Pain Platter; we all have our share.
But patience will bend, but it shall never tear.

Worry not little distraught soul,
The world will see you as you are:
Virtuous and rare, kind and fair.
One day, you'll see, the world WILL care!