Mark Meck

I have had pain in rain
With aches from sprains and strains
I have endured labour unattended
But I found strength to live
...

The sun scorches his feet blistering the sole
But the son knows it cannot break his soul
He wearily takes the journey towards a shimmering point
Might be an oasis to quench his hunger
...

Cradled under the burning sun so far from the cold would say our ancestors
Its rays like spears by Chaka, straight to the point
Warmed and cooled by the breezes from surrounding seas, a womb of creation
She brings fourth offspring lush and supple, strong and firm - its flora and fauna.
...

Little invitation for existence
Life's short
Shorter than breath itself
For Life cannot last longer than loss of breath
...

It could be the sun scotches the system black
For black is the colour of vice, ‘ n all ills
Black Africa is black of its people and their vices
While virtues are white, for white is innocence!
...

I have had laughter and mirth in royal lovers' nest
But nothing special about it
Have had rides and slides and sights from heights,
Still nothing special about them
...

Unwilling to leave for home tonight and slip into bed again,
Too cold for comfort, too free for freedom,
Too spacious for one person, especially one without a partner.
...

Thy wagging tail is welcoming
A sign of friendship and peace
Return I the gesture with a pat on thy back
And on your hind legs you stand
...

January's slow by nature's law
Enburdened by woes of a new born year.
All resolutions made last, gathering dust
Till February comes with a cupid's valet.
...

Corruption corrupts a system thus:
A head nods assent to vice
And blinds he the eye that sees
So he commits more acts corrupt
...

At forty degrees of heat so they say are fourteen signs of stress
Do not stress over the issue but find ways to distress
Address these signs of stress, first tiredness then lack of breath
Drink plenty of fluids and be under a shade at best
...

Rain rain rain
Come down and water my garden
Fill the drain and flood the stream
Flood the stream that floods the river
...

Built from nothing has everything come from love
This earth, the sun, the moon and all stars above
By Thy word commanded, the world was wrought
O Lord, how awesome thou art.
...

Hold my hand and walk me past the isle of sadness,
of stress and fear gnawing my heart.
Usher me into a new world of happiness imagined,
not seen nor experienced before.
...

Sickening winds blow
Of machete gangs at war
Virgin girls and mothers too
Ravaged, robbed, raped so.
...

Lie prostrate to Zeus on Mt Olympus
Bid him call the powers that be
of presidents and ministers world-wide
to cure the world of this ill wind blowing.
...

What portends this ill wind blowing
which inhaled robs man's breath
whose virus defiles the proximal space people share?
Is it the greed of man who has defied rules of the holy book
...

Virtual silence commands
that with masks
our voices be silenced to whispers.
And the body language of touch
...

It is a sin being born black
Worse to grow and walk the streets of Minneapolis
It is a sin unforgiven son
Every blackman's crime is a death crime
...