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Saturday, March 12, 2016

What Do You Remember?














(In commemoration of the Coral Gardens massacre)


I bet you remember
The birth and death
Of Jesus Christ.
But tell me
Do you remember how
They crucified Rastafari?

I bet you remember
The holidays and holy days
Of the pagan fiesta.
But tell me
Do you remember how they
Tried to eradicate Rasta?

I bet you remember
The months and days of the
Roman calendar.
But tell me, do you remember
The year in which they
Were slaughtering Rasta?

We’ve had many rulers:
governments and prime ministers.
But do you know who
Was fighting against the existence
Of the Rastafari followers?
Your past is your history
What you don`t know is mystery.
But whether baldhead or Rasta
We are all part of a larger family.

The love of Jah has no division
He offers salvation to each
And everyone.
But why is it that we fail
To accept each other.

Tell me, what do you remember?
Do not let ignorance and shame
Hang over your shoulders,
It is time to learn about the life
Of our elders.


Walk with us through
The traditions
Of our forefathers
And teach us the truth about
Our culture
So that we may be able
To tell others
What we remember


© Leon Pryce
Excerpt from my book “Immortalized Through Poetry”