Michael Manley

We saw bloom at midday where dreams begun Moon casting spell on tides, despite the sun. We squanded you like pennies on the street And did not know the price was adding up To our misery and the barren table; defeat For every tomorrow is the failure of today. But do not blame the others so badly yet For we did not, and cannot know our position When we have no time and space, sweat Was all we mark our hours by; the dry and wet. And we who lost our name and tongue in One passage, recalled only the deep within us And could not stop the eye always looking in Nor see the wind that pounded rock to dust. Your genius is that you knew it all, and said What we understood but could not remember While howling hunger staggered in the head. Still, you were such a great visionary leader; And only trusted too much the sycophants. I Think of you and light waters the desert eye.