Emancipation Poem by Elaine Oxamendi Vicet

Emancipation

‘Inside Out’

Emancipation what a novelty
For those born in captivity

Emancipation
Free, Free, Free at last
Those who knew only shackles, chains and
The crackling of a whip
Abuse internal and external
Women, men, boy, girl, child

Emancipation
AHH!
Today, those who fought gallantly
Feverishly and unselfishly
Sacrificing all even life
Weep!

Weep!
As the emancipated
Are as the backra massas
Of old
Abusive
Selfish
Uncaring and greedy

Indiscipline is rife
As one freedom at
The expense of his
Brothers right
For freedom

A simple example
Music
The emancipated likes
It loud
‘the neighbours must know
I have good taste in music’

While the child
Screams next door
The old lady shakes

The young woman
With a migraine
Dies quietly inside
The young couple
No peace
Some switch off their radio
Saving Mr. JPSCo whilst
The neighbours are
Abuse at the
Expense of emancipation
Turned inside out

An aggressor
Walk slippers in hands
And wraps
Loudly at the gate

Abuses fly
Tun dung di music
Yuh nuh si people
Waan rest

Abuses back and forth

Sirens scream
As the concerned
Neighbor calls for
The ‘militia’
(Sigh)
Unnecessary
Trauma
Unnecessary

Waste
As officers who
Could otherwise
Be engaged
Rush to scene
Of the
Emancipated

Emancipation inside out
It is simply amazing
How our ancestors
Fought
With blood, sweat and
Life
And this is the thanks
They get

Gratitude ‘inside out’
We celebrate

No physical shackles
No physical chains
No physical whips
Crackling

YET
We live behind bars
We are constrained by
The times and
Don’t you be late!
Yes
Whips still crack
Chains everywhere
Shackles hmm!
Nothing more
Needs be
Said!