Soul Jah Bwoy

These are the innards;
The deepening;
The dark and light;
The dusty, musty, crusty
Ignored-til-forgotten corners
of the Soul Jah gave
this warrior boy.

Born in a protected thicket;
Sheltered from the battle
raging in surrounding fields;
Transplanted in a quiet clearing-
A stone's throw away
from the grenades and bombs
minefields
gnawing Swiss cheese holes
in the living earth around
the boy with the Soul Jah gave.

The sheltering bubble
reflects the glow of violent fires
whose penetrating heat
threads sweaty crystal beads
on the surface skin of
this boy fighter Soul for Jah.

Armed for the war,
Stubborn fear nibbling
at the marrow of the Soul Jah made.
Distracted from the mission
by shiny worthless fossils
whose age gives them the allure of treasure-
Cunning, crafty, artful dodger;
Aged vice and snare
whispering,luring;
Sights set, cocked and aimed
at the Soul Jah bwoy.

Born from the wisdom of ancestry;
Nurtured by a mother Soul of Jah;
Lying covered under arms everlasting;
Transported on eagle wings;
Facing storms on mountain tops;
Resting in the valleys;
Oasised at living springs;
Camouflaged by love,
being everything and nothing-
Fierce and tender,
Shaded by day,
Hidden by night-
Growing from the seedling Soul Jah sowed,
Into the strength
Of the Soul Jah meant to become
the Warrior Man.