Janeth A. Benjamin

 Today, I am shining the spotlight on poet and blogger, Janeth A. Benjamin, author of April Showers, and Bloom by Thirty, The Miki Chronicles. 

Janeth was born in Jamaica but grew up in New York.  For more on Janeth's works, hop over to The Miki Chronicles,   If you have read her works, do leave a comment.

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I know we are going to be seeing more of Janeth's works in the future.

A Tribute to Mom's Memory (Guest Poetry by Colin Morais)

I am sharing the following poem, In Loving Memory of Mom,by guest blogger and my brother, Colin Morais.

In Loving Memory of Mom

Mother Mother how is heaven

I ask of you today

Is it flowing with milk and honey

as you told me yesteryear?

Mother, mother how is heaven

Did friends come out to greet

with beautiful flowers and silken robes

and songs sung so sweet?

Mother, mother how is heaven

Do you have windows there

where you can peep from time to time

and see us all down here?

Mother, mother how is heaven

Did God make you a Saint

For all the good you've done?

He shouldn't say 'I can't'.

Mother, mother how is heaven

Is Jesus by His side?

Does he still look the same today

as when I was a child?

Mother, mother how is heaven

Am I a welcomed guest?

Are my sins aplenty

and Hell my place to rest?

Happy National Poetry Month

 Happy National Poetry Month!

I hope that you are enjoying lovely poems, Caribbean and otherwise, during National Poetry Month.

I want to say a big thank you to a blog reader and poet, Janeth Benjamin, who reached out to me with feedback on both my blog and specifically, the post outlining a List of Caribbean Poets. Janet is the author of April Showers, Bloom By 30, and The Miki Chronicles. Check out her Amazon page here. After my discussion with Janeth, I was finally able to update the very useful list above.

Leave a comment on the poets and any particular poems that have appealed to you during this month.

Leonard Dabydeen's When Caged Child Sings

 Thanks to Leonard Dabydeen for reaching out to me to share his poem, When Caged Child Sings. 

When Caged Child Sings

When caged child sings, it's not a lullaby,

It's a song of yearning to be set free;

When the caged child sings, makes you want to cry,

It's a song just for being so hungry.

Where the caged child needs comfort for sleeping

There're crowded spaces so cramped in the dark

Where the caged child is heard crying, weeping

There're crowded spaces with no place to park.

Where border guards have forgotten roll call

The caged child loses close touch of parents

Where border guards roost with their denial

The caged child sings with fearful sentiments.

Behind this Mexican border outrage

A child will rise to speak of this hate rage.

Leonard Dabydeen