Keith Rolando Walters

Brooklyn, NY, USA

Popsy has been writing poetry from childhood. He was born and raised in Kingston Jamaica, West Indies. He came to New York in 1963, when he was 27. He is a recently retired New York City Board of Education Social Studies Teacher. He spends most of his time on a tennis court which is physical but deep down in his soul is his love for poetry. He says, "I can’t help but to have to write poems."

THE LOUGHTEN
This poetry is dedicated to the rank and file
and men of the General Penitentiary Prison of
Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies.

Strong winds battered the boat
to and aft
The craft was no where near
The wharf

Then came the heavy rain
Lightning and thunder
Again and again
That added much to the rain

The Loughten in trouble
Way out in the deep
Sad voices abroad loudly weeped
They were in fright
And were up tight, tight, tight

A broken rope from the rudder
Set the launch adrift
The passengers shuddered
As over the Bow a gale had lift

The blue waters of Ananery Caribbean Sea
Rushed over the vessel in a gust
Waves would not wash it to the
keys
Day looked like night
And no help was in sight

Out there in the swirling foam
There was nothing good to gain
Every living soul yearned for home

At length and at last
A passenger challenged the disaster
During this horrible and dreary downcast
Into the water with haste
He had no time to waste

Under the drifting motorboat
Which was still afloat
He tied or fixed the rope
Also he conquered the showery
Gale

Back on the deck
He fussed to himself
And said "to heck"
As the boat chopped
The water towards land
Everyone aboard gave him
A big hand
What a man!

AM STILL ALIVE

I have been criticized
Condemned to die
Went to my funeral
And am still alive

I have been abused
Used to infinity
Agreed to my lack
Of self-esteem
And am still alive

I have been challenged
Struck physically and beaten
Acknowledged my defeat
And am still alive

I have been lied to
Cheated and Robbed
Agreed that I am a
Fool and failure
Believed that I am
Stupid
And an still alive

I have been played down
Laughed at and teased
I helped to carry out that
Function in order to be
appeased
And am still alive

I was never told my rights
I often got angry to acquire
my rights
That’s when I am truly criticized
Being calm always did
me harm
Yet am still alive

The moral of my story is
You figure it out
Be masterful of your
Faith
And you’ll always be
alive