Potential and Promises Back in de day... That's what dem mature people like to say Chile you ain't know what you have now What I would give to be in your shoes today The wasted opportunities you take for granted that I hungered for in my youth Bowed down with familial responsibility which left me a primary school dropout Helping ma cook and care for she five pickney and extended family The pain of a girl chile working and toiling in the cane fields Then relegated to homemaking My stifled dreams, not even my husband knows to this day Raising our children to be a mighty generation Leaves me feeling like I was only the mode of incubation Does my voice not matter? My potential and promise extinguished What hope do I have now when wrinkles crinkle my smile, wise eyes and tired hands? The unrealized potential and promise fades as the light in my eyes With the end near, they wither with every failing breath No one knows my potential for if given a redo in this generation Oh goodness gracious, hold on for this epic detonation with no limitations I would be a force to be reckoned with Accolades, honours and celebration doesn't matter Discovering the truest me is the realest honour