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Strathclyde Upon Saint Michael

An island created from the collision

Plate to plate

Caribbean and Atlantic

This blue heaven with crops tilled by the Arawaks

This blue heaven once affected by the poison shot from Carib Indians

This blue heaven named by a Portuguese explorer for its fig trees

Trees bearded up

Trees spotting the English ships filled with explorers holding axes and the slaves who hate them

Trees murdered for the canes under these white stars

White stars shining bright through the clear, dark sky

So that we know how the Industrial Devolution was exercised

Barrels of cane juice in the left arm, lifted with tobacco bushels in the right arm

Balanced with cotton bushels on the cranium

Pinned to the black body

Weights slowing down the joy in black hearts

Hearts, beating to a slower rhythm, but minds never stopping the dream of abolition

A dream supported with prayers sent, with hymns from all eleven parishes

A dream fulfilled with vocations for more than $10, supporting Codrington College

Actions for abolition started the strides of rebellion

Rebellion rising to emancipation

Splitting the chains with one strong, swift pull of the forearms

Forearms and lips thirsty for a drink

The first round is on Brownes Beach

After that, then comb the fields for pulled pork accented with spicy pudding

Debate the mechanics of the town, deconstructed for reparations

Town business too, too sweet, oh….

The last call is yelled by RiRi under the umbrella, who gives out shots, shots, shots

Polished off by the dentist, who is not on call

Get in, get in, get, get in

Hear, hear

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Strathclyde Upon St. Michael Abdul Fattah Ismail