Showcasing My Culture through Agriculture and Poetry

The BVI celebrated Culture and Tourism Month in November. While I was not very much involved in planned activities, I participated in cultural activities in a more subtle way.

I was born in the 1970s when the people were still dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods. I grew up with a farmer who relied heavily on her garden for income. Today, I maintain a small backyard garden to improve my access to wholesome produce, earn extra funds, and share fresh fruits and vegetables with family and friends.

I have also been sharing poetry locally and internationally as part of my contribution to cultural activities. November 29 was significant because my poetry was shared during two live online events:

1. I participated in the live-streamed Poets and Praise Open Mic hosted by Cicely Carr. I'm on from 12:45 to 15:39.
2. My poem, Cohesion, was featured in the Key-Notez Corner Call Out hosted by PAPI'S POETRY CORNER. I'm on from 22:12 to 22:58.

Check out the YouTube links and enjoy a variety of poetry from several talented writers!

I want to say a special thank you to the organizer of the poetry events for creating avenues for poets to share their work!

Poem: Love Above the Label

Love above the label

Love above the label

is more than what you

see in shows on cable

it's more than what you've

read in the fables

love itself is just

unstable

and I am incapable of 

using labels to define anyone

there are times

when we are all unstable

when we feel like

jumping off the table

and that's okay

because love should

be the connection 

that tight-knit cable

that serves to disable

judgmental actions

criticisms and sanctions

we are all different

yet we are the same

all insane but some

are just more contained

so don't call anyone

by a defined label

else you'll be liable for libel

don't let anyone
classify you
because of your stance or style
because in time
you will be defiled
stand in your strength
and love above the label

© Linette Rabsatt

POEM: Insistence

To insist is considered a sin
because people resist
when they see passion on display
but I cannot desist from being me
because my energy consists of
pure, purposeful, and positive
intricate pieces of my heart
I cannot help myself
despite the trials
I must persist
because justice is the
system's quelling
and there's no
compelling reason to
exist within borders
that have been
too long in disorder
it all conflicts
with the verdict
and socializes me as
an indigenous terrorist
who should be inflicted
with what the exorcist
exercised on those
with the evil eyes

© Linette Rabsatt

New Album from Banco Bizmol - "Last Man Standing"

Banco Bizmol, who hails from the Virgin Islands, released his album, "Last Man Standing," on September 20, 2023. He was the 2020 winner of the Virgin Islands Qua-rap-tine Battle. Banco Bizmol has built an impressive discography of music, including EPs, "Route 88" and "Banco Bizzo Day." This artist captured over one million views with the music video for "Who Boost," which featured Prince Swanny.

Here are the eleven tracks on "Last Man Standing."

"Double Down" featuring Iyaz
The first track on "Last Man Standing" features Iyaz, another Virgin Islands artist, who is well known for the 2009 hit "Replay." "Double Down" is an excellent opening for this album, which balances Iyaz's soulful vibe and Banco Bizmol's witty lyrics.

Lyric Snippet: "Every man does get a shine when the time right/ but when you get the shine/ better shine bright, do it dawg for the cause/ don't get lost in the sauce/ never do for the likes or limelight."

"Never Fold" featuring Pressure Buss Pipe
The song opens, "This is the making of my history/ preaching to the world/ do it lyrically like a ministry/ all respect to God for the blessings that He has given me/ feel like I could make it, thankful for my ability."

Pressure Buss Pipe, an internationally recognized reggae artist from the Virgin Islands, is featured in "Never Fold." The refrain reminds us, "Give up don't live around here."

"For Me"

This song offers a softer, lovey-dovey side of Banco Bizmol. With the soulful vibe, the artist delivers with cadence and deep lyrics. He chants, "I still giving out the love I ain't receive yet/ some people stab me in the back and leave me speechless/ if I overthink and push away, it's just a reflex."

"My Life" featuring Timo Makaveli
"Good days, bad days, down times, up times/
rough nights, backstab, friends bite, heart breaks/
love fights, hurts right? Sudden highs, goodbyes/
big lies change lives, soul ties, my life, my rights/
one shot, one strike, three points"

"My Life" features Timo Makaveli, an international recording artist from the Virgin Islands and a member of the duo Rock City.

"Something to Say"
"You gotta keep going when you fed up/ it got times I feeling to quit but my people be like nah dawg keep your head up/ focus on music and go get your bread up/ shoot for the stars and see where you end up."

As the lyric snippet shows, the artist definitely has something to say in this track. He shares his journey about how his music and life have evolved.

"All Going Shine" featuring Theron Theron
Theron Theron is the other half of international recording duo, Rock City. In "All Going Shine," Banco Bizmol re-emphasizes his philosophy.

He chants, "Doing my thing, don't hate - just watch/ come from ground but we going up top/ I ain't going stop till they put we on the map/ and they fully realize that we more than a dot/ things ain't right but I love my life/ real ones in the pic, fake ones getting cropped."

"Fully 8" featuring Kalonji
"Fully 8" features Kalonji, who is known for "Apply Pressure" and "Chop Stick."

Lyric Snippet: "Lotta them a yes men, all they say is "Yes, Boss"/ I don't really talk much, I don't really take talk/ I be trying to keep calm, but my head sick, dawg/ I does see the devil on my shoulder with the pitchfork."

"Whole Time" featuring Th3rd
"I does go through the street like a Cadillac/ I maneuver the beats like an Acrobat/ mehn, this **** could get sticky like cataract/ cause we up like we deh on a flight/ cut off the ones who were there for the hype/ I see the duppie-dem, I see the blights."

"Whole Time" features Th3rd, who is also from the Virgin Islands. Th3rd's discography includes "Heartbreaker," "Best Things," and Higher."

"Retaliation" featuring Pediko
Banco Bizmol does not disappoint in "Retaliation". This high-energy track features Pediko, another Virgin Islands artist. We know Pediko from his tracks, "Bacck Seat" and "Grease" and his feature on Pressure Buss Pipe's "Who Feels It Knows It."

Lyric Snippet: "Just run your race, dawg, trying to keep my name good/ always need a face card/ n***as think they booming but it sound like the bass gone/ blind to the bull ****/ I feeling like Ray Charles."

"Donz Dem"
"Donz Dem" is another lyrically hitting track with Banco Bizmol's usual on-point delivery.

Lyric Snippet: "People always want to bring news and it don't even be the right set/ move on with your fake ***/ when I gone is bad talk and when I there is big laugh/ study long and you playing wrong/ in the game, you gotta think fast/ they be saying I the one now/ but I used to get picked last."

"No Problems" featuring DynamiQ
DynamiQ's discography includes "Dangerous," "Send Dem Home" and "Bad Inna Real Life."

Lyric Snippet: "I going hard till my last breath and my heart stop in my chest plate/ me and life in a chess game/ make the right moves and I checkmate/ one shot - get your best take/ don't want fame - we want estates/ and real moments that breathtaking - a blessed place."

Banco Bizmol absolutely delivers a powerful album with these eleven tracks on "Last Man Standing." You will enjoy the featured artists' performance, catchy instrumentals and Banco's usual on-point lyrical delivery. I commend this artist and his team another awesome release because the album is enjoyable from track one to track eleven.

POEM: Broken

too light for a burden

too bright for the vision

so much light on the path

of my inconceivable past

it's all revealed

in my inconsistent parallels

with the deceivably and diagonally designed

pieces of my mind

an interloping intertwine

of randomly revealed revelry

to be truthful

I possess no camaraderie

because I'm drearily built for

anti-socially sociable solitude

my attitude is not the most

commendable force

as it is usually the unfortunate source

of my wreckless bearings

confused utterings and irrefutable mutterings

although I'm hurting

because my stomach

is bursting

from trying to digest my feet

because we don't

like to admit

that we worship seats

yes, be seated for the

next session

of broken impressions

incessant ravings

unsettled cravings

and yet I stand

light as a feather

brightness dimmed

my past in front of me

© Linette Rabsatt

Book Review of "Flying 16" by Alexandra Psaropoulou

I first interacted with Alexandra Psaropoulou at an online poetry reading last year. Most poets recite their pieces during the recitals. However, Alexandra shared her screen to reveal intense yet soothing artistry while she read her poem. She also captured me with her performance because her voice was breathtaking. Alexandra composes her poetry with an immense vocabulary that often has me searching on Google for definitions.

During one of the more recent online poetry events, Alexandra shared that she has books available on Kindle. I logged on and searched for "Flying 16: New age, illustrated poetry books, taking the reader on an uplifting, spiritual flight. (The Flying series) [Print Replica]," which is part of her "Travelling beyond: Illustrated poetry books."

As I shared above, Alexandra's performance is encapsulating and energizing. As I read Flying 16, I imagined her voice performing the piece.

The poem begins,

 
"Do they know
the throbbing
of my aura
is shaped with
storms and sunrises..."

The author then takes the reader on a journey filled with beautiful and artistic displays as she wends her words and tells her story. This poem challenges the reader to consider spirituality, conscience, nature, empowerment, and self-awareness. Alexandra makes natural references to the "shimmering oceans" and "olive trees" while pushing your mind to wonder about "Gaia's expression of wedded earth and sky" and "Panentheism." The poem is rhythmic with its tone and references to instruments and other movements that can be musical.

The author shared that Flying 16 is "...a poetical, philosophical, metaphysical, linguistic journey."

"Do they know
the euphoria
of my triumphs
is shaped with
steel and devotion
pyrrhic dances
and ecstasies..."

Alexandra's work will challenge, amaze, and awaken you. She is a talented wordsmith who masterfully intertwines her words with art. I highly recommend her for her written work and performance.

Out of Breath by Linette Rabsatt - Entry for The Poetry Archive Now! WordView 2023

Here is my entry, "Out of Breath" for the The Poetry Archive's Poetry Competition. Do like, comment and share! 

https://youtu.be/bViaoBqJlWg?si=yZEhQQBTyLfQmJQz