A-Wake

By Annmarie Cephas

I was just in time when the singing begins

My heart skip a beat and my head spins

It might have been mind over matter,

but there was a spirit in my company

I felt it from within.

Turn back was my first thought

But people in the sacred space

hypnotised my body, I couldn't walk.

I found myself in a peculiar position,

As if my body was in a steaming pot.

I felt hot and cold; it was a fusion,

Celebration of the deceased's life,

Gone for over eight days

An Afro- christian practice

That night I had climbed,

the Upper St Andrew Hill,

Drumming carried my feet

Treated me with ‘brawta’

The Folks moved to the beat.....

People leaning on big speakers boxes

With reggae , and bold dance hall in the mix

A scent stood strong, real Jamaican white rum

A nice aroma of food packed the space

From bammy with fish, coffee, tea,

fried chicken, rice and peas, curried goat and white rice...

This was the magnet that tied us together...

The wake communed one yard and about four streets.

I started eating, meeting and greeting people

Found lost relatives and friends

‘Massa God draw us together again’

In the end I never regret the time spent

Prayer and sermon called .more

Voices singing and ringing

In and out of keys ....driving fear in full gear,

The bad spirit left the space,so I was kept awake all night.

By Annmarie Cephas