Two Poems

No Chance for Tomorrow
(dedicated to the children of Jonestown)

Sunny day keeping the clouds away
We play in Indian summer heat
Oblivious to the world beyond the rain forest
The world we left behind
Is it Monday or Tuesday; don’t know, don’t care
Just havin fun bein kids
No gang fights; no peer pressure
Just havin fun in our world.

Smilin faces, happy faces
Children of a new world
Children of a new life
Happy Happy Happy we are

Don’t know that the road ahead will change
Don’t know that the time is short
Don’t know that we should be cherishing each day we have with each other
Don’t know we should be saying “I Love You” every minute we have breath
Don’t know we should value the life of our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers

Didn’t realize the value of hugs
That kisses are priceless
Didn’t know
Didn’t know
That our little world in the Rain Forest
Would someday be gone
Would someday be a memory for those left behind
Didn’t know
That the last days were comin
Didn’t know
There would be “no tomorrow”
No more sunny days keeping the clouds away…no more

* * * * *

Didn’t Mean
(dedicated to those I left)

The voices come and go,
Breathing shallow
Can you hear them?
Mama are you there?
Sister is that you?
Brother can you hear me?
Scream so I can find you
Let the sound of your voice become louder so I can follow
I’m comin

Didn’t mean to go away and not come back
Thought I’d be back sooner than never

Can you hear me my friend?

YELL OUT FROM YOUR SOUT! So I can find you
Which way are you?
What road should I travel?

Didn’t mean to leave you
Didn’t mean to go away and not come back
Thought I’d be back sooner than never

Didn’t mean not to be laying side by side next to you; arms entangled together in a final embrace

Didn’t mean to leave you
Didn’t mean to go away and not come back
Thought I would be back
Sooner than never
Didn’t mean not to say “I Love You” on last time

DIDN’T MEAN…

(Dawn Gardfrey was in Georgetown with her grandmother on November 18, 1978. Her other article in this edition of the jonestown report is Living Through Martin’s Dream. Her complete set of writings on this site may be found here. She can be reached here.)