Deux équipes de névrosés

Vieux de cent ans

Se disputent une première place

Tous les cinq ans

L?une passe

L?autre attend.

Installés confortablement

Ça palabre de qui sera au

premier rang ?

Et les petites gens

Qui les entend ?

Oser se prononcer

On est vite stigmatisée

La rebelle

L?insurgée

L?iconoclaste

N?a pas sa place?

Mon combat n?aura-t-il de suite

Par manque de bakchich ?

Mon île

Que j?aime viscéralement

Se déshumanise-t-elle tout doucement ?

Chaque jour

À chaque pas

Je me bats

Sans appui

Pour raccommoder des petits bouts de vies

Et croiser les regards

Où j?aime la vie.

Je m?accroche ainsi

Réveille ceux enfouis dans un confort et ses restes

Empreint mon île de mes pas

Et d?un sourire je défie le reste

Car oui même tout bas, je dis ce que les autres ne pensent pas?

<B>Joyce DRIVER</B>

<B> ?From under my blanket? </B>

From under the soothing cosyness

From under the warmth of blankets

From under the comforting sighs of luck

From under the scent of sleep-sheets

I think of the one

without a sheet or blanket

under the pouring rain

in the chilly air

under the shop?s muddy verandah

or in the crevices of a dilapidated building

And I dream of a better world

From under the warmth of blankets

when flies and mosquitoes intrude even dreams

and dogs and cats make tremble night?s stillness

When loitering evil-fun seekers on streets

disrupt the much needed coming of sleep

and leaves fear to reign supreme, When brake screechers ruin the night

and murderers of sleep jostle around

I think of the birds on branches

amid the fury of the winds

And I dream of a better world

From under the warmth of blankets

I hear the rattling of impatient leaves

onto their homeward journey,

I imagine erring spirits

questioning the stars for their unending voyage

I think of God and his retinue

pouring his grace on some

other men left in disgrace,

My brain abounds with questions

And I dream of a better world

When at dawn sleep sneaks in

in the hour of the lord

as the dieties and saints

meet in conference on a star

The star I see smiles at me,

In the light I can see the Gods not happy

The saint?s eyes full of regrets.

Man has spoilt their creation

and is eagerly waiting

for a vacancy at God?s level

I fight then the ruse of sleep

And dream no more of a better world

<B>Anitah AUJAYEB</B>