by Fragano Ledgister
all hearts are filled with horror and with dread
we've hit the boundary of human reach
out here in the republic of the dead
there's no necessity to get ahead
once we have heard the words of the last speech
all hearts are filled with horror and with dread
for this we struggled long to earn our bread
and bowed low as the vile old friars preach
out here in the republic of the dead
where are are equal in the weight of lead
but none will listen as the poor beseech
all hearts are filled with horror and with dread
at every sound that penetrates the head
while silent men walk up and down the beach
out here in the republic of the dead
where none dare speak and all the good are fled
and what we learnt no one could ever teach
all hearts are filled with horror and with dread
out here in the republic of the dead
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ABOUT THE POET ~
I was born in London in the 1950s, and grew up there and in Jamaica. Since 1982, I've lived in the United States. I teach political science in Georgia, and write about political development in the Caribbean. I've had poems published in The Penguin Book of Caribbean Verse in English.
Last updated March 19, 2013