A Poem on Debt by Roi Kwabena

[Joanne98]

The Death of Roi Kwabena, Trinidian writer and cultural activist was announced in January 2008. A supporter of JDC for many years Roi used his poetry to speak and touch many lives not just in the city. This poem has been used in many settings over the last few years and will continue to do so in the Jubilee Movement.

wish we had a father

not only in heaven

but also on earth.

we would forgive

our debtors

and all those who

trespassed against us

the genocides…

the chattel slavery…

the indentureship…

the religious conversion….

the plunder of our antiquities….

the economic deprivation….

the scientific exclusion….

could we expect

our debts to be forgiven

so that we may feed our people

we wont be led into

military aggression

we will uphold the ideal

of tolerance and equality

we will fair trade

all commodities

we will promote sustainability

and protect the earth’s environment

oh! can we expect

our debts to be forgiven

as we adhere to principles

that will beneficial to all of humanity

we the rich-but considered poor nations

of the southern hemisphere…

http://jdcbirmingham.wordpress.com/2008/11/26/a-poem-on-debt-by-roi-kwabena/