tender

a soft, familiar voice;
a simple written word;
an unexpected reminder
that you are lovingly remembered,
can move a mountain of soul.

weakness resurfaced

I rest in that difficult place
between options and conviction,
the throwing around of ideas
in constant circles, forming
endless knotting in my stomach.

as good as your word

It is better not to have vowed
to keep yourself pure,
to unite with someone till death,
to be loyal to spouse or country,
than to make that promise
and then break it.

Before God and all mankind
I pledge the love and loyalty of my heart,
the wisdom and courage of my mind,
the strength and vigour of my body
in the service of my fellow citizens.

I promise to stand up for justice, brotherhood and peace,
to work diligently and creatively,
to think generously and honestly,
so that Jamaica may, under God,
increase in beauty, fellowship and prosperity,
and play her part in advancing the welfare
of the whole human race.

(The National Pledge of Jamaica)

whirlwind

my head pounds.
too many thoughts by night,
too much mental sleep by day.
drained by the strain
of an exhausting last stretch,
of numbers swirling into letters,
of making little sense of either.