Saxakali Magazine 3:1 Culture of Resistance: Poison River Flows, Sisterin', Of Prayer and Privilege

Saxakali Magazine V3N1
culture of resistance:

verse

there is a river I know
once, I used to call it my home
there is a forest that grows
so green, like god-given soul

there is an island I know
its the only place I have to go
hanging with the birds and trees
that’s where I see my family

chorus

poison river flows, nobody knows
poison river flows, oh where it goes
poison river flows, only heaven knows
poison river, poison river, flows...

verse

there is a river I know,
it used to be called my home
now they’re killing it out
for two bits of gold

there is a forest that grows
they’re tearing it all down
for middle class homes
now all we get is sores

rap

land of many water no more
poison poor people for gold
cyanide diet is cause for riot
politicians grin and glow
the poisoned money flows
while barama paying for red house
whose house getting bulldozed
the lifeblood, Essequibo bleeding
mother of our survival gang raped
we watch in horror, our lives in terror
while the guilty get off scott-free

got to take care of the land
got to take care of the people
got to take care of the water
got to take care of the environment

sisterin’

intro

wake up in the morning
rise with the sunshine
try to feed the kids
take care of the home
work all day in the fields
just to make my ends meet
work to the bone
work all day for the home

verse

oh yea, here the children cry
tide burns their eyes
sores on their hands and feet
can’t get no food to eat
isn’t there anybody listening
brown waves runs red, oh yea
can’t cook with dirty water,
oh no, oh woe, no oh no
with their national and multinational lies
they've have taken our livelihood
they’ve taken our lives for us

chorus

sisterin, my sisterin
you’re stronger than samson’s locks
bolder than omai thugs
no matter how much they try
they can’t put you down

Of Prayer and Privilege
by Parvati Persaud-Edwards (c) 1996

even the gods favour
the charlatan and oppressor
with bartered blessings
they thrive and prosper

blackmarket thieves
wrest ill-gained fortunes
from bloodied entrails
of hungry children

droplets of blood
from eyes of mothers
nurture
gardens of greed
rich yields of plunder

God is not wooed
by tears and prayer
or empty hands clasped
in agonized terror

7-day yagna
phool and prasad
feasting, gorging
sacrifices gouged
from the hearts of mothers
the souls of fathers
the lives of children

blessed by pundits
blessed by gods
see their cofferes overflowing

offices are bazaars
where rich employers
prostitute the honour
of helpless women

skill and flesh
body and labour
salaried whoredom
pittances doubly earned
a prest’s handshake
a donation to church
sanctions the right
to flood a soul
with sweat and sperm

the landlord’s child
privileged by Jhandis
and Koran Shariefs
elaborately performed
spit on the children
of the hapless tenant
renting shelter
is descent to beaggary
reduced circumstances
is reduced humanity

the poor know well
that all the graces
and love
notwithstanding
(s)he who lacks wealth
is a life redundant
for the trappings of hapiness
is a state endowed
a reality allowed
by ruthless wealth
and bartered favour
of greedy gods.

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