Oxy Moron, Contributor

The Editor, Sir:

MI SICK AND tired of lying here on mi back for the past 50 years, and it seems like mi going to be here for eternity before those damn trumpets sound. When do I get a chance to walk through those pearly gates? Nobody tell me it was going to be like this.

Dem tell mi when mi dead, mi would go to heaven to be 'round the throne of God, that mi would drink milk and honey, that mi would walk on streets of gold, and that mi would be lying beside the lion and the lamb.

Now, the only throne mi see is this rusty metal coffin and it look like the lion eat the lamb. One angel of death she come tell me bout mi would have to wait. She think she is the only one who should go 'round with wing on her back. Mi want wing too - two big white ones - so that mi can wash them with bleach every Saturday.

To tell the truth, mi was glad when mi find out that mi was dead, glad that mi was going to see mi husband. Mi could not bear to live without him.

After dem bury him, mi tek sick and never recover, but from mi dead, mi don't see him duppy, though we are suppose to be in the same cemetery.

Him mussi find another woman duppy or him mussi migrate to greener pastures because nothing much not going on in this cemetery. Every week dem cut down the trees dem to make space. Now, the shade gone and when the sun take we, we think say a Hell we deh. But, mi know that is not Hell we deh, because we don't see Satan him yet. Down 'ere hot, man.

So, how much longer mi going to lie in this miserable place? Dem might as well take off the RIP (rest in peace) from my tombstone, for no peace nuh dung yah!

I am, etc,

Agatha Innerarity

May Pen Cemetery

oxydmoron@gmail.com