After Gary Butte

 

Epilogue: Morning roosters

“and the feather, red

rooster, reminds us he

watches; ” – Kamau Brathwaite

A rumour, and more than a rumour, of cockerels —

from Kumasi to tents of Kedar

from markets of Sichuan

to Port of Spain’s Savannah —

The great Comb that raised the world to the first sun

comes again with His plumes and spurs

comes to take for Himself a harem of a bride

from every coop and hen house of earth

Egyptian Fayoumis, Japanese Bantams,

Rhode Island Reds and Blue Cochins

Guinea Hens and Creole Leghorns,

among the bridal caravan of pullets —

He comes of course, with the morning

and the trumpet radiance of the last sun.

~ John Robert Lee

John Robert Lee is a St. Lucian writer who has published several collections of poetry. His short stories and poems appear in numerous international magazines, and his work is featured in World Poetry Portfolio #58, edited by Sudeep Sen for Molossus (2013).

His publications include: ‘Sighting and other poems of faith’ (2013), ‘elemental: new and selected poems’ (Peepal Tree Press, 2008), ‘Canticles’ (2007), a collection of poems illustrated with his photographs: ‘Artefacts’ (2000), ‘Saint Lucian’ (1988) and ‘Vocation’ (1975).

In 2006, he co-edited with Saint Lucian poet and playwright Kendel Hippolyte ‘Saint Lucian Literature and Theatre: an anthology of reviews’, which is recognized as a significant contribution to the documentation of the history of Saint Lucian writing and drama.

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Featured illustrations, titles and paintings by © Gary Butte

Lines from Kamau Brathwaite and The Bible used with permission.