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SHE WAS NO LADY
Melissa was no lady
She did not act right
Behaving disgracefully in broad daylight
She flirted; she would not abate pursuit
She was no lady
She was a brute
She had fury as a woman scorned
defacing our picturesque peaks
writing all over the land what fear speaks
She sprayed her rage from the sea
She spewed down her bitter liturgy
What a thunder she boomed!
What an electric whip she cracked!
What a wrecking ball she hurled!
She was merciless
Ripping, stripping, and crushing
Smashing, stomping, and breaking
Everything in her path
categorically monstrous in her gaff
But she was retrained . . .
Her intent was unfulfilled
She was contained
She was determined to annihilate
She came in armed with our fate
But she was too early and too late
The hand of God made her hesitate
She wanted to sink and swallow Jamaica whole
She had determined to stifle our very souls
But God had a plan set in place ahead of the toll
Melissa was disappointed that her tally was low
She came out swinging to bat a hundred
.....all dead....
But the beats of the nation still thumped in the hearts
youthful imagination never drowned; it waded through her waters
floating on wood planks of hope and laughter
The vegetation, the trees, though shredded as if by disease
Hid roots underground like a secret railroad of resilient treasure
As long as the songs in our hearts still beat
As long as the prayers lifted to heaven, reached
As long as the roots underneath our feet still gripped deep
Our comeback was imminent, even before a dime was spent
Or before any help was sent
Jamaica, Jamaica!
I see you rising again
Jamaica, Jamaica, I hear you singing again!
My countrymen, your calloused feet will dance again on new streets
you will sleep in new beds covered by fresh sheets
You will pick fruit again from the bloom of rejuvenated trees
The sun still shines, and you hear the whistle of the breeze
That whispers, “don’t give up, keep trusting God.”
Have no fear
God is within your shores
Praise him continually forevermore
Repent of your backsliding, hoodoo, and voodoo
Repent of your wantonness and perversion
Return to me, little island, that I love!
Return to me, little island, that I love!
Let me hold you and restore you
Let me heal you and make you whole
Seek my face with all your heart
and continue to look above.
