Today is World Poetry Day! It is a day that I can celebrate one of my pastimes. I started writing poetry in an English course at the University of the Virgin Islands in 1996. Since then, I have compiled over 200 pieces, some of which I have published on this blog. I have performed in the USVI, BVI, and Guyana, and online with other poets from all over the world.
Poetry is one of the outlets that I use to harness my energy. I was one of the people duped by poetry.com, but it did help me to hone my talent. The site had haiku writing exercises that challenged writers to create poetry based on photos. I use that insight to participate in Visual Verse, which has published some of my poetry in 2022.
My journey includes rejection at events and from The Caribbean Writer. Interestingly, the rejection from The Caribbean Writer inspired Virgin Islands Callaloo: Poems from the Caribbean. I vividly remember performing original poetry at a competition that someone reading popular poetry won. However, I stand resilient and share my work. I have learned my audiences and share to suit.
After being encouraged, I published a small collection of poetry for Kindle titled, "Be Inspired: Poems by Linette Rabsatt." Publishing printed books is expensive. Sadly, support is often implied, but not always actualized. Therefore, for 2023 World Poetry Day, I want to encourage writers and artists to continue to hone their crafts and inspire others. I hope I have helped to pave the way for others to grow and develop.
Here are some poems from my overall collection!
This is one of my first poems, written for the English course.
For Real
Who am I that I want to be you
How to myself I am so untrue
To bleach and blush my beautiful face
Throw down my blackness for the next man’s race.
O how the lye has burned my head
Sobs, as hair morphs, then falls dead
The stress, money, the tears, the burns
Must raise my blackness. Oh when will I learn?
© Linette Rabsatt
I shared this poem on my blog on April 21, 2008.
My jeans tell the story of time
As we walk down the runway line
Bell-bottoms
Stone-wash
high waisted
and low rise
Pleated front
And faded
From back then to now
The fashion shows
That fashion comes
And goes
And comes back
And is unique
To each soul
© Linette Rabsatt
This piece was submitted to Visual Verse in December 2022.
Sight
I faded
like primary colors fade
when they are mixed with white
like the moon disappears
when the sun shines bright
not unlike my heart
when my mood is not right
I've got stains on my hand
because food security is the fight
complex and crazy
to sore eyes, I'm the sight
the key is a puzzle
to take you into the light
it has all the right colors
to get you ready for the flight
looking for your ticket?
it's turquoise, yellow, and green
with pink highlights
neatly packaged and
all enveloped in white
© Linette Rabsatt
