Jamaica Gleaner

Nightmare 2030

- – Davin Stewart

The pungent smell of iron and streets painted red,

The huge pile up of carcasses from the decomposin­g dead.

The irreversib­le damage, toxic waste and litter,

I see Nightmare 2030, a title that’s fitter.

The Jamaica we want versus what we’re creating,

It’s not in line with the future vision unless I’m mistaken,

A place to do business and raise families,

Currently a place with a multitude of tragedies.

We speak of a vision yet we ourselves so blind,

Too impaired to see the basic need of being kind,

The need to show love and show respect to all,

A country without insight is one that will fall.

A child who doesn’t see the need for an education,

A pastor who forgets how to pray,

A nation on the course of tribulatio­n,

A society in a state of decay.

We need to remember who we are what it means to have freedom,

The issues of inequality, poverty, and crime should be seldom.

We are no longer slaves but still being held captive,

Holding each other back with practices that are maladaptiv­e.

Mother with baby in hand and one on the way,

Father nowhere to be found after conception day.

Some persons so poor all they have is money,

Politician­s taking the country for a joke, one that’s not funny.

If we are to avoid the injustice and the bloodshed,

Discontinu­e hearing on the news how many shot dead.

The violence in schools and children being abused,

Police brutality, corruption and being generally confused.

We are to first look at ourselves and always do what’s right,

Not for fame, money, but simply for the good fight.

In 2030, would we have realised that vision.

Or will it end up being a failed mission?

 ?? ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Jamaica