Reggae Bug Poem by John Sensele

The Bug of Reggae music bit me in nineteen sixteen nine
Infecting me with a perception that spun my tinted lenses three hundred and sixty degrees
Jimmy Cliff who stormed the Reggae scene at the age of fourteen made it fine
Then came along Dennis Brown, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer and the Ithrees.

The Bug of Reggae bit my curiosity when Bob Nesta Marley
Preached one love, enjoining me to realize "No Woman, No cry"
As Bob Marley graced the independence of Zimbabwe near my valley
Of course, Jimmy Cliff nudges me to try and try

Till I succeed at last in a philosophy of stress free
World which I ought to join people of goodwill to remake the world
To prevent the rip-off man from dropping off the exploitation tree
To steal children's bread. Treat youths right and give them a chance to be heard.

The harder rip-off men try, the harder rip-off men fall
Sings Jimmy Cliff who feels he'd rather be in his grave
Than entertain exploitation at a glitzy shopping mall
Or live as a puppet or a slave or a knave.

Reggae entertains, Reggae sanitises, Reggae purifies
Thought processes, nought stresses, and wrought messes
Anointing the best gift that lie deep within a conscience that defies
Facile complacency and dissing smiling faces.