Christmas Eve In Jamaica

I stand here in my innocence Not knowing what is planned in heaven The skies are grey the wind is still and The heavy sound system is blasting on the hill I could not tell what it was all about Until I hear the DJs start to shout It is a rhythm that is common to every man Even if you don’t have an immediate plan The sound of disgust and disdained is bellowing all over the place the tempo is so loud that it shake the entire floor I tried to find a convenient place to write this verse So I resort to the kitchen to drown out the sound But the musical thumping got louder It forced me to take covers outdoors But the further I moved away from it The closer I get to it and the sound gets Louder and louder It took time for me to comprehend it But what I can truly say is the same feed blasting over the entire community Yes it is Christmas Eve in Linstead Jamaica I could hardly tell the difference Between the Christmas and summer sound The same sound has been playing since June And everything is definitely out of tune The rain is drizzling outside And the traffic is piling up on the hill side The cops are caught up in the mix they are looking tall and stiff And they are directing the traffic The road is blocked off from all corners to accommodate pedestrians and penniless shoppers Drivers or security men, it must be heavens den I walked through the crowded market To see what was really happening But all that I see is Christmas Eve with pain And Christmas eve with much shame Vendors lined out on the street looking destitute and incomplete Dry goods and wet goods neatly arranged on stalls but buyers are not responding to the vendors brawl Traffic piled up in middle of the street And a big garbage heap on the other side of the street, The vendors have been there all night Securing their spot and hoping for the midnight sale But everything is old and stale The pedestrians are rubbing against my feet And the soup man is calling out to the deep No currency exchange, no bargain, no sale Jerk chicken, jerk pork and all type of food Cooking in the street with smoke going up in the air People from every district and every town Congregate in Linstead town “This is a strange Christmas eve” a man shouts “I am here from morning and I am not selling anything”. said an angry woman, “laborite salt”. Echoed a man from around the corner I looked closely at the people’s expression And I see nothing but worry, agitation, and uncertainty Others are laughing and looking merry It appears as if they have a little money Christmas eve with present, Christmas eve with events But my parcel is locked in heaven Sata is racing against time To reach Jamaica before midnight He has a big chin and a tall grin And stomach loaded with things Heaven knows what Santa will bring I hope that he will come through for you I wonder what Christmas would be like, If I had a loving family by my side I wonder what Christmas would be like If Jesus was not my guide Christmas with sun, Christmas with gun And Christmas with pretty rainbow, I wonder what Christmas would be like If I had a real friend to confide in I still cannot get the Jest of everything This mystery is still caving in I remember when I was a little girl I went to the Christmas grand market Popcorn and tooting horns, roast yam and fried dumplings mix up with everything And little dolls tucked under my arm The street was very crowded And even the stars were twinkling And baby Jesus was grinning Now things has barely change More traffic on the street and a multitude of thieves are waiting and the cops is in the midst of things Country children coming to town And little girls in long gowns The shoe is too big for the little boy's feet Christmas eve has remained the same way Up until this very day visitors are parading up and down the street They are not really shopping Because they have need for nothing Christmas market, and Christmas Eve show With a mixture of rain and sun, to keep the heat and temperature down I wonder what Christmas Eve would be like If heaven was not by my side.