AP PHOTOS
LEFT: President Barack Obama speaks at the State Department in Washington, last week Thursday.
RIGHT: President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama walk the inaugural parade route in Washington. The colour of Michelle Obama's Isabel Toledo ensemble appeared to shift and change all day last Tuesday, leading some observers wondering what to call the shade.
The past week, with the inauguaration of Barack Obama, was filled with moments and images that most of us will not soon forget. Jamaica, with the rest of the world, watched every minute of Tuesday's ceremony with great excitement and hope for what is to come.
Sunday Arts has compiled some of the most striking images of the past week as a personal keepsake for you, with several of the poems that you, our readers, have sent in, expressing your own feelings in the dramatic way in which history has ben re-written.
Triumphantly he stood
humbly he spoke
wearing victory's face
This did not come in haste
It was a long wait
Martin Luther King, Rosa Parkes, they set the trail
Obama, he followed the
footsteps
triumphantly, remembering
death of our ancestors, suffering,
victimisation
and incarceration
Now, with oneness and humility
strong will and dedication
forgetting about segregation
anticipation turned into reality
The world vibrated
bodies in Kenya gyrated
victory touched every soul
All over many nations
The world is now hard to move
It's crumbling
But Obama makes everyone
aware
Do not be afraid
It's a time for all to care
We all can go that extra mile
to make another person survive.
- Barbara Dixon
Oh, Yes, I say
Oh, Yes, I say
The skies are so blue, though
you only see thick clouds of grey
The whole world is in panic, and
all they report is despair.
But I've looked at your grey
clouds, and I see promises there.
Oh, If you want to see tomorrow
Why surrender to today?
No one is going to rescue you
from sorrow
You will have to make your way
So, make your way.
Oh, Yes, I say
Oh, Yes, I say
You've got to fight, the
challenges life throws your way.
Reach deep within, the answers
were always there
Cling desperately to your faith,
willingly release your fears
Oh, the problems you now see,
can very soon be gone.
With the brilliance of our minds,
we can overcome these storms
And in the end we'll sing praises
to God above, for the knowledge
that he gives, understanding and
Love.
Oh, yes, I say
Oh, yes, I say
We'll stand together, I pray you will not dismay.
- S.D.G.
Obama, Obama, Obama
The world loves Barack Obama
Obama, Obama, Obama
The world has been waiting for
this reformer.
A black man has captured, not
just the hearts of America,
but of the whole world from the
Artic to Antarctica
Who would have ever thought
we'd have a black United States
president?
But here is the result of years of
struggles with great resilience.
Martin Luther King Jr must be
jumping in his grave
For he said 'I've seen the
promised land.'
Now it has been manifested in
this man, saying yes we can!
Now there's a black man in the
House with his two little kids
and Michelle, his spouse.
The Klan couldn't stop this one
because divided we fall, but
united we are strong.
McCain and Palin's campaign
kept failing
but team Obama had smooth
sailing.
Hear the people saying Obama,
Obama, Obama
The world loves Obama
and this war-torn world needs
a reformer.
I hear the sound of that Negro
spiritual, a change is going
to come
and the cry of an oppressed
people saying we shall
overcome.
I hear voices saying, yes we can
now they are saying, yes we
have
for the change has begun and it's
name is Barack Obama.
Hear the people saying Obama,
Obama, Obama
The world loves Barack Obama
From Joe the Plumber to the rich
man in his Hummer
No Nazi assassin or bomber can
stop Barack Obama
because the world loves Obama.
- Seon Lewis
Barack Obama a yu a de man
A yu wi waan fi run di lan,
Mek wi salute; mek wi boas.
Di fus black man fi run di White House
Obama wi president, yu gone like Usain Bolt,
Yu run all di states, an yu run all bout;
Yu tink a 'Merica only yu deh?
Mi wan yu fi know seh yu deh every weh.
Memba di people! Memba dem; memba dem
Weh Martin Luther seh!
Mi hear di man, mi listen weh im seh.
Dat black an white wi unite
Martin dead but im win di fight.
Mi caan believe! But mi hafi believe
Mi heart a sigh wid a relief
Black fambily in a di White House,
Big, big uplifment chile mek wi boas!
- Melda Graham