AS TOLD BY: A Woman That Had a House in Jamaica

I had a house in Jamaica

That saw the sun rise and fall

I had a house in Jamaica

Secured by fancy iron gates and adorned with lovely flowers

I had a house in Jamaica

Off in the countryside and painted white.

I had a house in Jamaica

Maintained by mother's love and creativity.

I had a house in Jamaica

Teemed with two girls and two boys.

I had a house in Jamaica

That watched my father come and go from sun up to sundown.

I had a house in Jamaica

That smelled like red snapper and rice with curry on Saturdays and Pine sol on Sundays.

I had a house in Jamaica

That watched my mother teach me how to sew

I had a house in Jamaica

That watched card games and table slamming at night.

I had a house in Jamaica

My oldest brother told everyone in the taxi cabs in New York.

I had a house in Jamaica

That watched my brother die

I had a house in Jamaica

That heard my mother's cries

I had a house in Jamaica

That heard my prayers

I had a house in Jamaica

I told my girlfriends in 1988 Brooklyn, NY

I had a house in Jamaica

That watched my siblings grow and my parents age

I had a house in Jamaica

I dreamed about while sleeping in a one-bedroom apartment in the projects

I had a house in Jamaica

I thought about while finally catching my breath after catching the bus on Tuesdays.

I had a house in Jamaica

I told my boyfriend

I had a house in Jamaica

I said to myself, watching the maintenance man fix the leaky faucet after a month of complaining

I had a house in Jamaica

I dreamed about at night by myself because my love was gambling our money.

I had a house in Jamaica

I daydreamed my daughter would be running through

I had a house in Jamaica

I thought about going back to when my love put his hands on me in front of our child.

I had a house in Jamaica

That didn't see me because I took my love back.

I had a house in Jamaica

I told my daughter while we lived in the highest part of the projects

I had a house in Jamaica

That soothed my achy head while watching the bills pile up on the table.

I had a house in Jamaica

That saw me one more time in the spring

I had a house in Jamaica

That ached watching me & daughter leave for the city

I had a house in Jamaica

I said to myself when the boss laid us off

I had a house in Jamaica

That watched my neices and nephews grow

I had a house in Jamaica

As i shed a tear when my boyfriend left me and our daughter one summer afternoon.

I had a house in Jamaica

while Picking up food stamps in the crowded welfare office

I had a house in Jamaica

Listening to my mother say she told me so

I had a house in Jamaica

Knowing she was right

I had a house in Jamaica

That hated America

I had a house in Jamaica

While giving America hope

I had a house in Jamaica

When I got my citizenship

I had a house in Jamaica

When things got a little better

I had a house in Jamaica

That never saw me again

I had a house in Jamaica

I cry for

I had a house in Jamaica

I long for

I had a house in Jamaica

That holds my family's spirit

I had a house in Jamaica

That i'll see in heaven

I had a house in Jamaica

I tell my grandchildren