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Drew Jonathan Poem
Reasons to be happy
Why should I be happy sir?
I have a job and a secure marriage,
I can walk,
Talk,
And use my hands freely,
I don’t have cancer or cholera or glaucoma.
I don’t have to run away from a war,
Across deserts, over walls or seas to abroad.
I can speak freely and say what’s on my mind,
Unlike in China, Zimbabwe or Venezuela.
I don’t have to queue to get food parcels and clothes,
Or sleep on the streets holding signs for loose change.
I wake up,
Use hot clean water to wash,
Dress in a suit.
I’m not persecuted for colour,
Race or religion,
I can listen to music of choice, people of choice
Get up in the morning, sleep in a bed at night.
Copyright © Drew Jonathan | Year Posted 2020
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Drew Jonathan Poem
It could have been me
I am white, privileged, Christian, educated and wealthy
I am married with children, young, fit and healthy
But what if I was born into a different family
Pushed down by the weight of different social gravity
It could have been me born as a black child
Ripped and jibed for the colour of my skin
Sticking for safety with the brothers of my kin
With my head on the ground under the knee
That could have been you or it could have been me
It could have been me born with something not ‘normal’
Where the genetics go wrong and I am born with a ‘barrier’
Or my parents do drugs, or drink I become the carrier
With my hands driving wheels or holding a stick
Whilst being called names like ‘stupid’ and ‘thick’
It could have been me not fancying girls
Being teased in the street for holding hands with a boy
With names thrown my way for others to enjoy
Looking for help when I’m attacked in the street
Because of where I might go and who I might meet
It could have been me immigrating for work
Escaping the life of my country’s condition
Finding it hard to make a family decision
Living off wages that don’t match the hour
As the English men laugh I worry and cower
It could have been me born as a different religion
Being taught different ways to believe and behave
Being shown different ways to do right and be saved
If I don’t know I’m wrong how can I change?
You persecute and discriminate thinking I’m strange
It could have been me with no money for dinner
Pursuing the means to make the ends meet
Whilst trying to buy the right shoes for my feet
Not having the right phone or the right hair
Seeing the others thinking how is this fair?
Should I discriminate? Should I be mean?
Thinking about all the bad stuff I’ve seen
It could have been me who drew a raw deal
Perhaps we should think more about how others might feel.
Copyright © Drew Jonathan | Year Posted 2020
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Drew Jonathan Poem
Now you’re retired
Now you’re retired you can relax and unwind
You can wash all your cars, wax them and shine
You can cut your grass often
And plant little shrubs
Walk your dog more and go further abroad
You can go for long trips to faraway lands
For as long as you like with your family and friends
You can paint all your walls, your doors and your floors
Tidy the garage and build screwdriver draws
Lay in in the morning and go to bed late
Watch programs you like in the middle of the day
Make cups of tea and look out of the window
Go to the pub and have lunch and a beer
For as late as you like without getting up fear
Take a long shower or even better a bath
Now you’re retired take life more easy
Relax and unwind reflect on achievements
Spend time with the grandkids going out to nice places
Now you’re retired I wish you the best
Enjoy all your days, make the most of the rest
Copyright © Drew Jonathan | Year Posted 2020
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Drew Jonathan Poem
Cast shadows
The sun casting shadows
Heat
Escaping the burn behind trees and buildings
Dripping sweat through shirts and blouses
Lips dry, eyes sore
Stale air – drying faces
Gasps to catch breath as throats become thirsty
Hiding from the thoughts of impending darkness
Walking, carrying heavy loads
The sun’s passion upon us, some fall
Fear, exhaustion, energy long forgotten
Trudging wearily to an end
Standing, sheltered by walls and by others
Heat passing through us
Wheezes of breath from young and from old
Hope - the sun casts shadows
The shadows will save us
Free us?
……
No
Copyright © Drew Jonathan | Year Posted 2020
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