Happy Father's Day 2023

Wishing all dads, grandpas, uncles and godfathers a blessed Father's Day. I'm sharing a piece I wrote when my Grandpa passed away. I hope it will inspire someone.

Original post can be found here.

POEM: Vivid Visions

I see vivid visions
that are often far
from any version of reality
these sights don't 

match my vigilance

but insight vengeance 

and vain thoughts

but I do not support

irreverence
because these experiences

let me venture

from places unknown
to worlds untold
I am invigorated 

by the possibilities
and intoxicated with these synergies
that connect me to an alternative life
so as my vices and the shrill voices
sometimes offset my vibes
making it so intense

that I become valiant

and versatile

I cherish these sights

and though vague and repetitive

they make me want to visit

some new place 

where the vultures

feed on nightmares

and the velocity of nature

is variegated by the vernacular
valued by the villagers 
and vaulted from virtuality
into reality

© Linette Rabsatt

POEM: Where is the Love?

Black Eye Peas asked,
"Where is the love?"
but "Love doesn't live here anymore"
Cost of living high
Status ain't for all
They refuse to answer your questions
or requests for clarity
And when you speak up,
they are ready to write you up
or write you off
But all water ain't salt
And all salt ain't seasoned
But for some apparent reason
The power has gone to our heads
while many people's bank accounts
stay in the red
and theirs stay in the color of greed
But I hope that we bear that in mind
that today may be my turn
and as I nurse my burns,
I know that love's been gone
it's been broken, tainted, and forlorn
lost in the sea of difficulty
discarded beyond the moon's opacity
forever gone from this time

Written on the spot.... I guess the thoughts were hot.
© Linette Rabsatt

World Poetry Day 2023

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

Recorded Poem: One With Words

This is a Poetry Recording of "One With Words," one of my poems in my new Kindle book, "Be Inspired: Poems by Linette Rabsatt. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcgsjxWpsQI

I usually share this poem when I visit schools to read poetry. Feedback always welcomed!

Book Review: Build Your Own House, Vol. 1 by Stephon Mactavious

Have you been thinking about building a home? What preparations have you made so far? I know you will ensure adequate space, a well-drawn plan, and a legitimate funding source before construction.

"Build Your Own House: Lay Your Foundation of Happiness, Love, and Success"
This ebook, "Build Your Own House: Lay Your Foundation of Happiness, Love, and Success," is not about construction in the traditional sense. However, it is all about planning, construction, and enjoying the finished product. The author, Stephon Mactavious, created this inspirational book to assist readers in improving their outlook on life.

The first in a series, "Build Your Own House: Lay Your Foundation of Happiness, Love, and Success," includes five chapters that lay the blueprint for helping you to achieve your goals:

1. Finding Your Inspiration
2. Making a Plan
3. Overcoming Challenges
4. Building Your House
5. Living in Your Dream House

This ebook contains valuable tools that you can use. Here are three quick takeaways:

Chapter 1 - "Don't be afraid to dream big, and to let your imagination run wild": I equate this to keeping your childlike tenacity and putting that energy into everything you do.

Chapter 3 - "I Got This" Motivation: Positively assure yourself that you can achieve your goals.
Chapter 4 - "Be flexible": We must adapt to this ever-changing world of surprises.

According to the Author
As a firm believer in the power of positive thinking and personal growth, I always gravitate to finding ways to help others achieve their full potential.

"Building a house" is a metaphor for building a foundation for one's life. Just as a house needs a solid foundation to withstand challenges, our lives also need a strong foundation to achieve success, love, and happiness. In my ebook, I provide practical tips and exercises to help readers build this foundation and create a life they love.

The inspiration for the ebook came from my own journey and the struggles I faced along the way. I realized that many people face similar challenges and often lack the motivation and direction to overcome them. I wanted to create a resource that would provide guidance and support to help people build the life they desire.

In short, my passion for personal growth and desire to help others inspired me to create this ebook. I believe everyone has the potential to build a fulfilling life, and I hope that "Build Your Own House: Lay Your Foundation of Happiness, Love, and Success" will serve as a tool for those seeking to do just that.

Who is Stephon Mactavious
Stephon is a Virgin Islands author, entrepreneur, and Youth Parliamentarian, who is passionate about seeing positive change in the community. He is the CEO of Go Royal Events and Dream Big Group.

Did I mention that "Build Your Own House: Lay Your Foundation of Happiness, Love, and Success" is free of cost? Follow the link and get your copy today!

POEM: Sides by Linette Rabsatt

This is my latest recorded piece. It was written in 2018. I sometimes feel more of a connection with the earlier pieces than those written in this decade. 

Poetry is important to me because I can exceed normal boundaries by playing with the creativity of words. I think I was all over the place in this piece but in the end, it is simply saying that we need to take care of our business.

Ribbon