Enjoy this powerful poem, performed by Grace Nichols, entitled "Hurricane Hits England".
Beautifully done!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qsa_QAFMs5o
Source: Youtube.
2/14/2012
A Caribbean Love Poem for Valentine's Day
Poetry is often used to express love, and for Valentine's Day, I would like to share a Caribbean love poem, A You Mi Want Fi Deh Wid (translated in standard English - It's You I Want To Be With) by Joan Andrea Hutchinson. The poem, from Joan's collection Inna Mi Heart, was previously posted on this blog when I focused on Joan's work.
I just love the way that the Jamaican dialect, used in the poem, captures the range of emotions. Enjoy!
A You Mi Want Fi Deh Wid
· Even if you put on fifty poun
Even if you sick and mawga downEven if you bleach di black fi fayva brown
A you mi want fi ‘deh wid’
Even if you foot shape like afoo yam
And you hand look like song of di banana manEven if you claim rasta but quietly lick di ham
A you mi want fi ‘deh wid’
So even though you a behave like a clown
And your name a call all over townA you mi want fi be around
A just you mi want fi ‘deh wid’
Copyright Joan Andrea Hutchinson. Reprinted with author's permission.
2/11/2012
Guyanese Poet, Grace Nicholas
Here are two more links to information on Guyanese poet, Grace Nicholas. This first British Council literature page provides biographical information and a listing of her writings and awards. Also, this Wikipedia page gives some more details.
I shared in a previous post my memories of visiting Guyana, Grace Nichols' birthplace, and driving over the floating bridge, which crosses the Demerara from Georgetown.. I learned recently that it is the world's fourth longest floating bridge. Below is a picture of the bridge, courtesy of Google images.
I shared in a previous post my memories of visiting Guyana, Grace Nichols' birthplace, and driving over the floating bridge, which crosses the Demerara from Georgetown.. I learned recently that it is the world's fourth longest floating bridge. Below is a picture of the bridge, courtesy of Google images.
2/06/2012
In Honor of Black History Month, Claude McKay's If We Must Die
In honor of Black History Month, I would like to again share Claude McKay's If We Must Die. This poem, which McKay wrote in response to the racism which blacks in the United States experienced, was previously posted on this blog in 2010. It was also quoted by Winston Churchill as a rallying cry against Nazi oppression during World War II.
If We Must Die.
If we must die, let it not be like hogs
hunted and penned in an inglorious spot
While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs
making their mock at our accursed lot.
If we must die, O let us nobly die
So that our precious blood may not be shed
in vain; then even the monsters we defy
Shall be constrained to honor us though dead!
O kinsmen! we must meet the common foe!
Though far outnumbered let us show us brave,
And for their thousand blows deal one deathblow!
What though before us lies the open grave?
Like men we'll face the murderous, cowardly pack
Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!
If We Must Die.
If we must die, let it not be like hogs
hunted and penned in an inglorious spot
While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs
making their mock at our accursed lot.
If we must die, O let us nobly die
So that our precious blood may not be shed
in vain; then even the monsters we defy
Shall be constrained to honor us though dead!
O kinsmen! we must meet the common foe!
Though far outnumbered let us show us brave,
And for their thousand blows deal one deathblow!
What though before us lies the open grave?
Like men we'll face the murderous, cowardly pack
Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!
2/05/2012
I Is A Long Memoried Woman by Grace Nicholas
Last night, I started reading I Is A Long Memoried Woman by Grace Nichols. I could not put it down, and completely understand why it won the 1983 Commonwealth Poetry Prize. Powerful. It is Grace Nichols' first collection, and it traces the journey of an African-Caribbean slave woman. The themes are slavery and its brutality, African participation in the slave trade, plantation life, rape, motherhood, infanticide, and slave resistance.
I would love to share with you some of the poems in this collection, pending permission to reprint. If you can get hold of a copy though, I am sure you will find the poems very moving.
Caribbean people can truly be proud of a poet as talented as Grace Nichols.
I would love to share with you some of the poems in this collection, pending permission to reprint. If you can get hold of a copy though, I am sure you will find the poems very moving.
Caribbean people can truly be proud of a poet as talented as Grace Nichols.
2/04/2012
Grace Nichols, Guyanese Poet
February's spotlight is on Guyanese poet, Grace Nichols. Here is a brief note on Grace and her writings to date.
In 1983, Grace won the Commonwealth Prize for her first collection, I Is A Long Memoried Woman. Grace was born in Georgetown, Guyana and worked there as a teacher and journalist, before moving to the United Kingdom.
I remember well my 1995 visit to Georgetown, Guyana and was very impressed with its lushness and beauty. One special memory I have is driving over the floating bridge which crosses a part of the mighty Demerara River. I was scared, but enjoyed the experience. I also enjoyed shopping in Stabroek market. Below is a picture of Stabroek.
Stay tuned throughout this month as I feature more of Grace's works.
In 1983, Grace won the Commonwealth Prize for her first collection, I Is A Long Memoried Woman. Grace was born in Georgetown, Guyana and worked there as a teacher and journalist, before moving to the United Kingdom.
I remember well my 1995 visit to Georgetown, Guyana and was very impressed with its lushness and beauty. One special memory I have is driving over the floating bridge which crosses a part of the mighty Demerara River. I was scared, but enjoyed the experience. I also enjoyed shopping in Stabroek market. Below is a picture of Stabroek.
Stay tuned throughout this month as I feature more of Grace's works.
Stabroek Market, Georgetown Guyana
Photo from Google Images
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