Betham poems on Hello Poetry

Zach Gomes Jun 2010

Before a flock of no more than twenty,
Reverand Betham gives his second-to-last sermon.
There were no signs of it in him then.
Forgiveness, he talks about
Forgiving; the backs of heads nod
Between pews in the dust and the August heat.

Is anyone still surprised
That this is happening?
Where is Reverend Betham
Now?

People murmur because Betham
Is no longer allowed to teach
Sunday school.  I still see him
In his office, late nights, reading—
His lamp is always on.  It seems
So obvious to me now, when I think of
How he would fold the small
White robes and run his hands
Over them to smooth their creases.

Sunday, and the Reverend is granted
One farewell sermon, provided
He makes his apology.  Today it is even
Warmer; white paper fans swat
The air between the pews.  A crowd
Has come, only to curse the Reverend
As he enters the church.  I would later ask myself
What caused this?  What violent undertow
Has dragged the Reverend to the pulpit?
I, like any other, am also at the pulpit for my trial.
From the back of the church, I can hear
The click-click of the reporters’ cameras.

Zion Jameel Nicholai Samuel Sep 2018

**** Me Dead (Trini broken language)

**** me dead dis is not Trinidad we living in dis is Hell.

Man ****** women and man,  killing children and duh give ah dam.
Duh take men land or they guh chop off your hand,
Women loykey so every man is every woman man.
Yes in dis island,  Government is only tricks and scams.

**** me dead, dis is not Trinidad we living in, dis is  Hell.

Men up here different, them duh chase fly buh chasing family instead.
Men beating men if they play mad and touch their bread.
Duh talk about their gyal, watch them and more than five bullets in Yuh head.
Betham and Lavantille, watch any man too hard,  well sure Yuh dead.
Because when their guns done talk,  there is no more to be said.

**** me dead, dis is no Trinidad we living in, dis is Hell.

Women want all de gun man, so money coming quick, like quicksand and quick hand.
Who tell women to cheat,  man duh care over here, women dead too.
Man will buy the world for them, when they done, he want back everything even food.
It's plenty clues, Trini men can't shoot gun, so its either magnet bullet or they using glue.

One more thing too, some police have all wah they need,  they will burn down your **** field and geh high from de same ****.

Trinidad izza mad place

— The End —