I Am Every Jamaican

In Honor of Jamaican Independence Day Today...


I Am Every Jamaican
By Jazz Johnson
Published Mar 31, 2005


I am every Jamaican
Black gyal, chiny gyal, Indian gyal, white
What are you? They ask
Hand outstretched to touch
And then retracted
And I smile with a knowing air
And say…
“I am every Jamaican”

Proud woman, hard working man, strength, hardship, laughter
What drives you? They ponder
As we work hard for the yankee dollar
Yet still
Soul untouched
And head held high
We always
Fly…
“I am every Jamaican”

Domino slapping, Jerk chicken eating, Reggae, dancehall
Where does the rhythm come from?
From the beating
Of the drums
From ancestors carried far away
From home
Trying to preserve, to maintain
Our dignity
And
With
A sigh
I say…
“I am every Jamaican”

White sand beaches, deep cool rivers, wood, water
We enjoy your land
They say
As we watch jealously
As they frolic and play
In our legacy

Because of our poverty
And I ache
Because…
“I am every Jamaican”

*I* am Every Jamaican
Out of many one people
*I* am every Jamaican
who works for the dream
to die at home
*I* am every Jamaican
whose heartbeat echoes
the rhythm of transplanted beats and nations
*I* am every Jamaican
who longs for the blue azure beach
*I*
am
every
Jamaican…

Jazz Johnson

http://www.jamaicans.com/credits/jazz.htm
http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/poems/iameveryjamaican.shtml