I learned about World Poetry Day in 2008 after reading about Edgar Lake, Virgin Islands Historian and poet Edgar Lake, and his work. I was inspired to contact local media to request their support with sharing poems in their publications for World Poetry Day 2008. In 2009, I worked with the Callaloo Poets and the BVI National Commission for UNESCO to host a poetry competition for young persons. The Callaloo Poets also hosted this poetry competition in 2010.
Since then, I have been sharing poems on YouTube or this blog for World Poetry Day. I have also entered poetry competitions hosted by the BVI National Commission for UNESCO. For 2024, I contacted local radio stations to ask if they would be willing to share poems recorded by local poets. The support was overwhelming, and I am very grateful to ZROD and ZBVI. On ZBVI, several poets shared their work: Justin Hodge, Lavanta Thompson, Maria Smith-Callwood, Anjanique Cheltenham, Tishauni Hall, Toyer Fahie, Akin Chinnery from USVI and Nelly Vee from the USA. I also visited ZROD to promote World Poetry Day and shared a poem while live.
We also shared four poems written by the late Quincy Lettsome, Ph.D. on ZBVI:
- 'A Cooking Oddity' previously published in "Virgin Verses III: Sunlit Voices of Our Destiny" © 1984.
- ‘The Sailing Sloop’ previously published in "Virgin Verses II: Selected Poems and Lyrics" © 1976
- ‘Be Like The Sun’ previously published in "Virgin Verses III: Sunlit Voices of Our Destiny" © 1984
- 'A Call to the Youth'
Other than the poets listed above, I would like to thank April Glasgow, Verna Penn-Moll or the Cedar Tree Press Literary Competition, poet Nikiesha McMaster aka Queen Boss, Sandra Potter at ZBVI, Shonovia Thomas at ZROD, Jerome Joseph of Time is Time Promotions, Alison Flax-Archer from the BVI National Commission for UNESCO, Fire & Dust Poetry, Ashley Edge and the Prickly Pear Open Mic, Call All Poets Series, Author Nelly Vee of KVI Network Creations LLC, Allographic Open Mic, Garage Poets, Poets and Praise Open Mic, Papi's Poetry Corner, the Garage Poets Open Mic and everyone who encourages writing and shares poetry in the Virgin Islands, Caribbean and the world.
In honor of World Poetry Day 2024, I am sharing this poem that I wrote for the late Robert Creque in 2009, who was a talented musician.
To Robert Creque
As magical fingers
touch the organ,
we listen and we sing
to another magical melody played
in memorable musical ministry.
As a brilliant mind
follows a tune,
those talented fingers
transcend an energy
which can only
come from the
Father’s blessed hands –
and we listen and we sing.
As this musical messenger,
whose musical repertoire
includes countless
extravaganzas, concerts,
services & weddings,
uplifts and inspires us:
Dear Lord,
let the example
in this musical ministry
keep us focused on
using our talents
to serve you.
And as we listen and we sing,
we can learn from his progress
and his struggle with illness;
as some feared this minstrel’s magic
would have been quieted,
the Father’s intent
was to make a marvelous miracle
by showing us his promise
to never leave us alone.
So as we listen
and as we sing
in harmony,
with melody,
and perfectly poised,
the musical messenger
keeps playing
and keeps us
in tune.
© Linette Rabsatt
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