Kin

In August 2007 I learned the Jamaican independence song, and it really struck me. It’s so basic, but really great. The line about wanting and planting kin resonated with me, and it feels right for a title. Here’s the song:

This is my country and your country,

and we want what’s good for our own country, Jamaica.

We want good leaders and good teachers and good students and good citizens, too.

But if you want good, you must do good.

You cannot do bad and reap good.

And if you want kin, you must plant kin.

You cannot plant grass and reap kin.

So make we pull, pull, pull together and not pull against one another

for unity is the power to build a better Jamaica.