James L. Ferguson

Jamaica, West Indies

James Ferguson received his early education at Ardenne and Wolmers Boys School in Jamaica W.I. He left school at fourteen to join the Royal Air Force serving in England for three years.After returning to Jamaica, he worked with the Government, then established his own business.His poems have been published in the National Library of Poetry and he has received "The Editor's Award" for two successive years. Poetry and caring for others is his life.His motto is "Facio Ergo Sum" (I do, therefore I am). He is certainly, without a doubt, a man with a Vision of Hope.


Friend Of My Youth (Out Of The Past)

What dreams come through the door
When I look at your face
Has time changed you so much more
Has life given you second place
Friend of my youth long gone
The face from the weary past,
A taunting memory of things long done,
Of things that could not last.
Oh friend, what times we had,
What happiness and sadness together,
How nice it was for me as a lad
To love you like a brother.
Time in its great hurry to complete
Its circle around us today
And being so great in its conceit,
Has brought us back for a while to play.

A Dear Love

What is life? She said, and smiled,
As she walked down that lonely road,
I am tired, but I wish to stay awhile
Dear God, please ease the heavy load.
I am frail and wracked with pain,
The price to pay for having lived,
On this treacherous earth I still call home
Oh Christ, must I bear it alone.
She cried out loud but no one heard
No answer came to ease the hurt,
Alone at night from her silent bed
No life to hold to that empty breast,
That had suckled her children thourgh the years
And gave them solace to ease their tears.
My ruin, she said, was to have lived
My everlasting sin to pass this way,
It would have been better if I had died,
Than lived my own torture everyday.
She looks through her window at the green grass
And at the tree with white petals drooping from its limbs
She cries out in anger "When Will It Pass"
Yet no answer comes as the light dims.
"Why, why me" she said, what have I done?
Did I not give all under the sun,
That could be given from this human flesh
Am I to be repaid only with death.
Merciful Father please give me a sign
To show me that all this has not been in vain
And when I am placed in your good earth to lie
My spirit will soar to Heaven and there remain.


All poems Copyright © 1997 James L. Ferguson. All rights reserved.