Dr Roi Kwabena born 23/7/1956 Trinidad died 9/1/2008 England
I never had the good fortune of meeting Dr Kwabena but I was introduced to his work via a mutual friend. Another Trini poet man done.
LETTER FROM SEA LOTS
“........only five pounds yuh send?
bread, sugar an’ milk gone up.........
buses doh run.... water still go
now severe-threat in charge ah de water in maraval
so we looking out fuh poison...
money hard to come by....we down here suffering
sure..we have gas, oil, menthanol....
....steel, an’ sugar exporting..
buh mangrove still vamping...
factories not hiring.....even race horse protesting....
crime rampant as jurors hunted
laws improvising an’ english q-cees hustling..
buh teachers’ money still owing...
yuh ask for news? any news is sad news.....
doubles-man an’ market vendors still on de run
kidnapping an’ family murders add to dis shame
while meh OLE gran still worried sick ‘bout she pension...
cable an’ wireful, wid sure-hell come back...
even powertake an’ brit grasp follow fashion
buh maxi still accept short change
yet parts expensive..so only insurance profittin’
as sprangers still roam in de night
de only difference is de den opposition
must now salute for de independence parade...
Roi Kwabena (from Selected Poems)
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