"MY JOURNEY"
Barefooted and naked
crossing dry desert lands
days come and go
I journeyed

night falls, casting cold storms
upon black, dry broken bodies
that trembled with shivers of aigiou
solicitude one to another
wedged in spaces between us
shackled, raw flesh
hands bled from ropes too tight
I journeyed

Villages came and went
rest I needed
with water to wash down
footprints in the sand
to prove this was my land
in which
I journeyed from

My existence
a bleak memory by now
as I watched the ships sail in
doubtful fears creep up
as they came from
far and wide
across the seas
gentle Atlantic breezes
cools my aching, broken body
piled one upon the other
I journeyed

The underbelly of man
has captured his own
to brutality, we sailed
his ships bought the lives
of many brothers
one dies each hour
the bell tolls for the count
Resilience set in
as I watch the shores disappear
A history lost
So I journeyed
a fatal fleet
of wounded lives
I journeyed to the end
SO I DID.

"MOTHERLAND"
Una laba yuanda
laba shanda
labie anhda
I hear the sound of
my Muoma"s voice
in desperate rhythm
of African drums
in the stillness of night
they came
upon the shores
of my virgin daughters

Smell of death in the air
the stench of their guns
borne against the blackness
of my skin
Muoma, Muoma
cast your spell
on this unknown evil
as iron drops tears at my skin
ripping sons, crying babies from
Muoma's arms
she held steadfast, never letting go
the sons of her womb

They knelt down beside her
prying her fingers, from
their cattle head
as they led the herd
to the slaughter house
my Muoma laid, dying
uttering words of a sacred spell
Una, laba yuanda
laba shanda
labie anhda

She paid the price
of death
for her children
her spell casted to the
shores, from dying lips
una laba yuanda
laba shanda
labie anhda

Let my people go, free
her words of the
wisdom spell
Oh, my African Muoma,
only you knew.

"MAHARANI"
My sweet delicate flower
that showered me with love
I've looked everywhere for you
where are you

Suddenly
from yonder, in a distant land
I heard your cries
over boundless waves
of ocean fronts
breathless breezes
whispering secrets, from your
tortured mind

Shattered dreams
of a broken heart
fragments of your hopes
scattered across the cold "Chicago Bay"
chilling winds, silencing you
hushed treats of an icy death
on its cold fronts
I heard your distant voice
of strength

The revolution of your truth
Armour's you on frontiers
so alien, as their borders of
lies come tearing down
grasping courage
you marched on
with dignity you stride
and pride you stand
at last I've found you

Oh cherished one
our journey has just begun
your seeds planted
has burst forth
intelligence has fertilized your soil
bloomed wisdom has sprung
in fruitfulness

March on
cultivate your truth
beyond visions of perception
reclaim your life
in victory
you've taught well
I'll envision your dreams, as one
united
finally, I've come
to set you free
long last
"Free".

"DEPTHS OF LOVE"
An ocean
of bliss waves
crashing, against
the borders of my soul
gathering seaweeds
molding residue
on walls of a jagged mind
blistering pain, burning salty waves
in crevices of void less space
so great, so intense

Lifted wings
seared through the heart
stabbing with ferocious power
slowly
seeping through damaged clouds of
falling raindrops
cascading down
mountain pride,
glittering tears fell
gently between her toes,
flooded warmth, in her veins
she swept through, windy
torrential rains
her face lifted to the skies,
Angelic expressions reveals
inner most confusion

She transforms,
compassion clothes her
a revelation beyond
the brilliance of eyes,
pools of simple love
spirit renewed
kisses refreshing
she danced like a weightless
fairy in time
her spirit of timeless evolution,
graces the pages of life
with heart wrenching beauty
so innocent,
so boundlessly free
she remains as nature intended
tranquility adorns her
with essence ,
of love
of life......

"PEACOCK'S TALE"
Scattered fragrance
of a broken heart
sweetened by the odors of smiling roses
touched by stems of
innocence
capturing the rich glow of
sun kissed days
gathered power

your knight comes
each dawn
flaring beauty surrounds him
blackness of the night coats him
decked in colors of the rainbow
casting painted pictures
treading softly
on nature's green velvet
sparkling, he seeks
somewhere to lie
drinking beauty of wild jungles
fascinates you

complicated vines on
tall, willowing trees
your shining feathers
seeks admiration
challenged
A new king of history
rare art of life
mastering patterns of nature
blankets dominance
over valleys and creatures

Now my curved rainbow
shrinks with the setting sun
masked behind a shadow
faded dark image
hiding
as clouds watch
new blooms of creation
a kiss
good - bye.

"PASSAGE SPIRIT"
Cast a shadow
crack a smile
slant your brows
but it won't do any good
clench your teeth
once more
and again
it won't change a thing

bend your aching back
scream out in pain
as your tired feet give way
to the scorching ground
beneath you
your crumpled form,
lifeless
you call out
from parched lips
red and swollen
no one hears
no one listens

as your wrinkled hands
gathers courage
you tuck your sagging breast
heaved your bulging belly
flared your nostrils
and stood
tall and mighty
uttering....no more....no more...
day by back breaking day
you'll toil no more
in the heat of the sun
you've reclaimed
your dignity
as your chapped feet danced
to the beat of the drum
"Freedom" oh sweet one
"Freedom"
at last.

"MY SECRET LOVE"
Another year
has gone by
while my eyes, behold
your beauty
as you rest your weary head
on pumped muscles
hair streaked with silvers stars
stubborn stubbles of a harsh beard
peeked from beneath sun worn jaws
defines your reality

mapping trenches of age worn paths
curves beneath dark eyes
holds secrecy, untold
haunted stares
penetrates the air
a rigid back
squares the walls of domination
shoulders spread across miles
of aggravation, braces humbly
on rusted frontiers
tired, weary,
massive arms gropes
then clutches at hopes
dangling loosely
from open pores
on desperate land

Soldier...
be aware,
your promise land is here
in your glory
power your iron wings
devour it in consciousness
drink in realization of
unveiled paths of
scared rivers
that flows through
valleys...
of souls
scattered pebbles of knowledge
Armour's your chest

Soldier,
don't you know
the smell of prosperity
has beaded your life
chained, links of gold
sparkled diamonds
beneath your feet
heart feathered by
watering lilies,
unfold before you
reflections of a lost destination
fly
my winged marine
soar to the emerald heights
of Eldorado Mountains
fly, spread your wings of glory
over Pakarimas's Peak.

Esther Das Whitaker is a Guyanese born poet, whose interests include Yoga and Meditation. She is the sister of Mahadia das, one of the leading Guyanese poet of contemporary times. She lives in North Carolina.