The last word on National Heroes Day comes from my friend and poet Michael Abrahams. Another gem of wit and sarcasm.
My dear non-Jamaican friends, some of this may be completely incomprehensible to you! So I have translated parts of this poignant piece, as best I can – although it spoils the rhyming of course – by noting the “standard English” alongside the Jamaican. Sorry, Mikey (I’m afraid it’s so much better with the Jamaican language and rhythm…)
Yes, we need heroes. REAL heroes!
We need heroes
Fa we tyad an restless an vex to rahtid Because we are tired and restless and vexed for goodness’ sake
Our tropical paradise long departed
Tun rudderless ship a sail inna tsunami Become a rudderless ship sailing in a tsunami
Need some hero fi steer di ship an calm we Need some hero to steer the ship and calm us
Powerful leaders
Too many bottom feeders
Parasites and predators
Among ministers and senators
We reach rock bottom an cyaa get lower We’ve reached rock bottom and can’t get lower
Feel like grass under mower
For as we get likkle sun For as soon as we get a little sun
We get cut dung We get cut down
By corruption an greed
As di craven feed As the greedy (craven) feed
An we tek di crumbs dem lef fi us And we take the crumbs they have left for us
Afta dem nyam til dem belly waan bus After they have eaten until their bellies want to burst
Yes
We need heroes
Heroes who will bare dem chest
An nuh fraid fi tek lick inna dem breast And are not afraid to take a hit in their breast
Champions of veracity
Not pathological mendacity
Who will separate from di crowd
An talk di tings loud And speak up loudly
An figet bout party an orange an green And forget about (political) party and orange and green
Cause di two a dem a di same ting, naa mean? Because the two of them are the same thing, know what I mean?
Figet bout rituals an tradition Forget about rituals and tradition
An nuh fraid fi go gainst party position And not be afraid to go against party position
Fi fight fi what dem know is right To fight for what they know is right
An stop try fi hold on to dem status tight And stop trying to hold on to their status tight
An put our needs before theirs
As dem manage our affairs As they manage our affairs
Cause hero know what name sacrifice Because heroes know what sacrifice means
An some people will tink seh dem nuh nice And some people will think they are not nice
But fi di greater good of di land But for the greater good of the land
Dem will tek a stand They will take a stand
An sacrifice personal gain
An share some a wi pain And share some of our pain
Yes
We need heroes
Heroes fi stan up fi wi yute Heroes to stand up for our youth
Cause to tell yu di truth Because to tell you the truth
Dem in a bad way They’re in a bad way
An dem lost And they’re lost
Dem need direction They need direction
Guidance an protection
An dis must be done And this must be done
At all costs
Cause from dem pon breast an from dem a toddler Because from (the time) they are on the breast and (the time) they are a toddler
Dem see few good role model but whole heap a modeller They see few good role models, but a lot of “modelers” (show-offs)
Roughneck, skettel an wutliss sample Roughnecks, immoral women and worthless creatures
In di public eye a set bad example That set a bad example in the public eye
Lying and weak leaders who sit pon di fence Lying and weak leaders who sit on the fence
An bruk rules an laws wid no consequence And break rules and laws with no consequence
Fathers weh absent an mothers weh care Fathers who are absent and mothers who care
Less bout dem pickney an more bout false hair Less about their children and more about false hair
We need hero fi wi yute fi emulate We need heroes for our youth to emulate
Before it’s too late
An dem grow up an perpetuate
Dis non-progressive failing state
Dis cycle of hostility
Mediocrity an negativity
Cause wi downward spiral
Is like a video gone viral
Out of control
As we approach the black hole
Yes
We need heroes
We need heroes
We need heroes
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