Sunday, March 21 is World Poetry Day! 2010 marks the third year that the Callaloo Poets in conjunction with the BVI National Commission for UNESCO are celebrating World Poetry Day in the Virgin Islands. The highlights from 2009 include the World Poetry Day competition and a special ‘open mic’ poetry reading which featured the winners of the said competition.

This year, the poets hosted the poetry competition themed ‘How Can I Be a Good Model’ among the territory’s public and private school students. The winners will be announced at the special ‘open mic’ on Saturday, March 20, 2010 themed ‘Poetry: Expressions from the Soul’ at Mellow Moods at 7:00pm.

Another part of the commemoration is our World Poetry Day article which shares information about poets and poetry. By now, most of the BVI population would have seen or heard one of the poets on the radio, television or at a ceremony or an event. As a group, we try to put ourselves out there so that our community can embrace our type of expression and also inspire the youth and the ‘closet’ poets to speak up and share their thoughts.

When it comes to performance styles, each poet has his own flair. While one poet may speak loudly another’s words may come in a softer tone expressing the surface of the matter. Imagine, hearing the words “It’s time to flap your wings and sting against the powers and their wrongdoings” in a soft voice with the words being read with emphasis on ‘sting’. The writer may even choose to use literary devices such as metaphors which bring a creative flair for comparison to ease the message across to the readers. For example, “I swam in the well of pain” is the creative way that the poet expresses the level of pain he was suffering.

Some poets are hard-hitting from the time they start to verbalize. Sometimes, they may warn you that the content may be a little harsh but the end result is a positive message. If a poet starts off loud with a serious face and says “For this route we are on no doubt is designed to lock us all out or is it up to them to determine our destiny” a listener may get scared. There is no need for fear because it is all apart of ‘poetic licence’ – that unwritten rule that allows artistes to experiment with their creative potential and literally create new artforms, new words and new techniques.

Poetry is never stagnant. When we look back at the poetic artform, we can travel as far back as the bible to great writers such as David and Solomon whose words we repeat regularly. ‘Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death’ is a line that has been coined even in recent days in hip hop songs. You can even look at Shakespeare and Charles Wesley and their old English writing style and speed up the clock to Langston Hughes and now Mutabaruka, Maya Angelou, Derrick Walcott, Pablo Neruda and other famed poets. The styles have transformed from the use of rhyming techniques, stanzas to a more free form of poetry.

In the 21st century, it’s about the flow. So lines such as “hands around my waist, turned out to be hands around my neck, the RESPECT disappeared” do not rhyme but when read emphatically can exude the hidden dimensions of this poem which are linked to domestic violence. Repetition also helps to bring points across as stated in “two rings, one bond, two souls, one song, two heartbeats, one heart, two lovers, one love” which expresses love and marriage.

A lot of persons express to the group that they admire the talent of being able to pen words elegantly. Because of fear and our limitations on ourselves, we fail to realize that everyone has poetic abilities. It is all about taking that step of confidence and putting pen to paper. Even if it sounds like it is amateur, share it with someone close or visit our monthly readings to get a confidence booster – not just for advice or criticism. We are here to build each other up because poetry is an artform that will never die.

There are no hymns, no hip-hop, no pop, no reggae or no anthems without poetry. Music without words is just sound. Writing and reading poetry makes us smile and dance and keeps us instep with our emotions. Today, we encourage you to read the poems below and enjoy the different styles of expression. We also wish you an enjoyable and inspiring World Poetry Day on March 21.

For more information about the Callaloo Poets, please visit www.myspace.com/vicallaloo or email vicallaloo@hotmail.com.

- Linette Rabsatt, Member of Callaloo Poets

Homage
Dedicated, Determined, Disciplined –
describes a man and a lifetime of lessons
HIStory tells of brothers and sisters
snatched from the warm embrace of Mother Africa
Nameless, faceless, fearful
forced through Doors of No Return
Swallowed down in the bowels of an insatiable beast.

Stripped and scorned, weak and hapless,
chained, dragged through muck and mire,
through stench and stink
Dead and dying tossed like useless logs, to sink,
while the beast sails on leaving its
pile of bones littering the ocean floor.

Where are the memorials?
Who built monuments to tower over reverent citizens?
When do they pay respect and say “never forget”?
Do they remember to say a prayer?
Do they even care?

Dedicated. Determined, Disciplined –
one man standing alone and raising his ring of roses
Bowing to the weight of his task, a silent prayer,
a single tear, flowers tossed.
With the wind and waves as witness,
Homage is paid to lost brothers who did not land on any shore
and tossed sisters whose bones remain on the ocean floor.
He remembered. He cared.

© Cheryl Trott

Bursting the Bubble
I feel like I am in a bubble
Like I am trapped inside of trouble
Oh! Why don’t things go my way
Better is coming; but it hasn’t today

I laugh away the pain
I see the sun but all I hear is rain
When I pray does he hear me
Yes he does because he is always near me

He is not letting this happen for nothing
I know by faith that he is up to something
He promised to never to let me down
So I am just a queen awaiting her crown

Trials always come before a blessing

So why must I waste my time stressing

Let me stop putting my trust in man

And hold on to God’s unchanging hand

© Nikiesha Richards


Dynamite You
You are a dynamic element

Of God’s creation

Therefore you can smile

With great elation

Fear no one, nor anything

Never give up, dear not quit

You can make it in time

Yes, you can do it

Observe what life teaches

Learn from your mistakes

Avoid bad company

Put forth what it takes

With education comes learning

With work comes responsibility

With age comes challenges

With a will comes victory

© Maria K. Smith-Callwood

Words of Wisdom
Even when times get rough and your heart is on its last beat
Don’t lay down, don’t give up, don’t ever accept defeat
Lift your head to the sky where all blessings rain from
Say a prayer, never lose sight of where you came from
The hardships you face are only there to make you stronger
Do right, live right, speak right and live longer
Don’t be ashamed of correction, keep a still tongue
Hearken unto the teachings of your elders while you’re still young
The wise man knows his limits but a fool oversteps his bounds
Although fame can be fulfilling, to live in peace is more profound

© Ricki Richardson – May 19 2009

The Missing Shine On Her Finger
She cries ….
Looking into his eyes,
Been SO long; she’s been waiting
Overwhelming tears flooding her eyes
Dark green rivers flow down the clear desert
Over a few bumps
Retarding their destination.
Before they mar the bright crimson,
Lips glide down and do it for them
The diamond shines during this kiss
This moment of anticipated bliss!

© Lavanta Thompson 2001

Hate vs Love
as the chime of a clock…goes tick and tock
so my mind chimes…with thoughts sublime
and as I rhyme in time with lines
designed to awaken your senses so you drop your defences
without flavor I ask for one favor -
that you show love not hate
for hate… needs to depreciate
for love is a valued treasure – hate only brings displeasure
love is the answer – hate is a cancer
hate is a cancer – love is the answer

© Linette Rabsatt

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