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Best Poems Written by Leonard Dabydeen

Below are the all-time best Leonard Dabydeen poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

Details | Leonard Dabydeen Poem

Work Smart Not Hard

Work
so hard
morning, noon
night before sleep
reward is so unsatisfactory.
Wake up in the morning ready for work
have my breakfast
plan my day
to do
list.
Now
ready 
start workday 
review my list
prioritize my work for the day; smart.

Details | Leonard Dabydeen Poem

Sky Painter

Soft
light
glowing
silent moon
pouting tender cheeks
this moonlight that painted the sky.

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Cross Divisive Barriers

We have to cross divisive barriers
When we wade through storms in togetherness;
Water rising like silent couriers
Brings our disposition from this madness.

Beyond much witless pride and prejudice
We take shelter under one roof as one;
Our color, our creed, our culture in bliss
As we nurture new dreams to carry on.

When our faith is strong and strength is renewed,
No bolder blasting from sweltering rain
Will shake, rattle or roll to make us screwed;
We shall heal and overcome growing pain.

There is always light under the tunnel;
Just keep your eyes open through the funnel.

Details | Leonard Dabydeen Poem

Behind Every Difficulty

Behind every difficulty
Look deeply for a solution
Never think it will be easy.

Sometimes it appears so tricky
To be worthy satisfaction
Behind every difficulty.

Sometimes you try best as can be
Rolling over resolution
Never think it will be easy.

Sometimes you take the task lightly
Without a priori caution
Behind every difficulty.

Sometimes you show little worry
About making a decision
Never think it will be easy.

Sometimes there’s animosity
Which makes assorted division
Behind every difficulty
Never think it will be easy.

Details | Leonard Dabydeen Poem

In the Colour of My Skin - 1838-1917

You mock me 
at your dinner table
higher up the food chain
 call me bad names 
with your filthy mouth
 ride your prancing horse
 and  whip me 
like your slave boy
 when colony sugar burning
 because you brought me
 to make flourish your plantation
 then take my woman
 as you please
 with your whore-mongering angst
 in her womb
 while I tug and sweat
loading punts with sugar cane 
but just you never forget
 you cannot change 
this colour of my skin
 like I can change yours
 it is my indentured heart you fear
 that will rise in this diaspora
 turning pages of history
 creating new chapters 
gathering storm
 just you never forget
 just you never forget !!!

Details | Leonard Dabydeen Poem

An Eye For An Eye

An eye for an eye blinds the entire world.
By this action one negates the whole truth;
And so creates a boomerang unfurled.

With bitter hate and villainous uncouth,
There is fallacy that might is right, thus
By this action one negates the whole truth.

With sordid haste, being so atrocious,
The world’s play-book flutters with rage, selfish;
There is fallacy that might is right, thus.

By this token, without any blemish,
An eye for an eye may seem justified;
The world’s play-book flutters with rage, selfish.

While millions of people are petrified,
Flailing hopes and dreams only fantasy
An eye for an eye may seem justified.

All lives  matter in eyes of Gandhiji;
An eye for an eye blinds the entire world.
Flailing hopes and dreams only fantasy;
And so creates a boomerang unfurled.

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If

If
you
must die
a solemn
death, image the life
that you portray without fanfare.
Life rich with ambiguities
portends a challenge
what is true
knowing
you
lie.

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Dream Painter

Watch
me
unfold
my canvas
to the open sky
a white cotton blanket on easel
then watch my brush softly stroke images of the mind.

Here I see the colour of my skin, prism of my hair
my flesh and blood, eyes like the sky
palette of my mind
colourful
non white
black
brown.

Details | Leonard Dabydeen Poem

Body and Mind Recluse

A man’s as old as he’s feeling …
~ Samuel Taylor Coleridge


If the body frees the mind in its quest
For youthful dreams to be forever young
Let not Time play such games like cricket test
To stay batting because the gloves are hung.

If I should sit alone in dark of night
Will I hear angels singing of a new King?
Or should I let my mind wander for light
Until sunlight herald flowers of Spring?

Never too old I thought in solitude
Murmuring to myself, am I too late?
But the mind regales with much gratitude
That I am so far from St. Peter’s Gate.

When youthful feelings prod the mind to soar
Sweet dreams go far beyond ocean’s shore.

Details | Leonard Dabydeen Poem

Lord Shiva

What is attraction?
 Where does it radiate from
 Inside that gourd of mingled mind?
 Each step I take hither that direction
 A feeling bursts into flame
 A lighted candle
 With shadows boogie-boogying 
 Like morphed amoebae
 In a cob-webby womb
 I feel this heated magnetism
 Pulsating and clawing
 Until I reach for it
 Hands tightly clasped
 And bow with bended knees
 Offer a prayer
 Silent whisperer
 Lord Shiva
 Wish for Blessings.