May 2026 - Continued Growth and Development

Scenes from the BVI

May 2026 brought more learning opportunities, both professionally and poetically. I think it's important to always try to learn new things. I have been attending monthly writing workshops hosted the National Cultural Foundation in Barbados. I want to improve my writing and one of the best techniques is to learn from the more seasoned and experienced. It's also a great idea to converse with other persons in your field/industry. We are all champions but it is better when we collaborate and share ideas.

Here's my May 2026 recap.

Sense & Sensibility

My haiku was published today in the Summer issue of Sense & Sensibility. It's summer time so I had to write about our beautiful fruits in this short form of poetry!

Wax Poetry and Art Magazine

Long Way From Home has been published by Wax Poetry and Art Magazine in the Legends of Shakespeare’s Pen 2026 and Caribbean Poetry Magazine.

Spillwords

Spillwords has published my poem, My Connection. I wrote it on May 14, 2025, just over one year ago. There's always something intriguing about the forest.

The MockingOwl Roost

The MockingOwl Roost published my poem, Mama's Prayers. I love to perform this piece because I speak as both mother and daughter in the poem.

Poetry on YouTube

Migration: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-U0lTeRK4BE
Ring of Fire: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pubXkqUBTmk
Death of Chivalry: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/FtqWf1oaJyU
Can I Keep You: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/OeZzvH9l66s
Choices: https://youtube.com/shorts/bbAtNJfZkAA
Afraid of My Shadow: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/SbNqqx2EEpY

Other May Blog Posts

• Happy Mother's Day 2026 Poem
• Poem: Planted in Service – Blooming in Honor
• Growth

New Poem: Dear Diary

who unearthed
my secrets
that no one else knows
these things that I can't even
trust myself to recollect the memories
I didn't just hide
I burned the book
yet it has been unearthed
and every hurt
that I held
each lie that I told
is now online for everyone
to behold
and I can't change their perception
of my off-brand fiction
which is my life

© Linette Rabsatt 5-31-2026

Growth

 

Growth is not the same for everyone. All 3 pieces were placed in water on the same day and in the same container. They are different cuttings and each one's roots grow differently. Humas are similar in that we are all unique. We all have flaws and room for growth. We have different talents. We grow at different times. Invest in what grows you!

Poem: Planted in Service – Blooming in Honor

I wrote this poem to share at the Retiree Recognition Ceremony which was held today. I actually wrote it this morning. The theme was the title of this poem and I wanted to show the relation between a soursop tree's growth and the retiree's journey as Public Officers. Let me know if I am on track.

Do you remember your first day as a Public Officer?
Sharp, neat, excited and thrilled…
You were like that little soursop seed
Ready to stretch, extend and grow
After the first year, you got settled
Better understanding your role
Making connections
Just like that seed that became a little sapling
Still needing care and support
To keep you growing
And building confidence
You got that 10 year pin
And you knew you were destined
To be a career public officer
Similar to that soursop tree
That had become taller
And started to blossom
You had ups and downs
And sometimes those blossoms fell off
But you maintained the course
And eventually saw the fruits of your labour
These fruits – literally or figuratively
Gave inspiration, love and support
To the customers and the new sets of Public Officers
You dared to dream and spread your wings
Like that soursop tree
That is now resilient – it survived Irma and Maria
And gave sustenance during Covid19
You like this tree
Was planted in the Public Service
Blossomed with excellence
Fruited the next generation
Laying a path for them to be even better
And today you bloom in honor
Because your work was impactful
To the growth of this territory
As you journey forward, keep blooming
Just like that soursop tree
That provides healing, shade and beauty

in the Virgin Islands and across the world

© Linette Rabsatt 5-23-2026

Happy Mother's Day 2026 Poem

 

Be inspired!

My April 2026 National Poetry Month

BVI

April is National Poetry Month. I wrote a poem every day based on prompts I found online or from my own inspiration. I had a few pieces published, lots of rejections and notifications of some upcoming acceptances. I'm never daunted by the rejections because it is an important part of the development process. 

Here's my April 2026 update!

Visit to East End Library

I had the pleasure of spending part of my morning on Friday, April 24, 2026 at the East End Library. I shared a few poems and had the children read with me. It's a great way to keep them engaged while showing how easy poetry can be. 

Blue Crystal Literary Magazine

My poem, Snowfall, was featured in the 23rd Issue of Blue Crystal Literary Magazine. Congratulations to the winner, Hugh Findlay with his poem, A Visitation.

Poetry Downtown Rutland 2026

I have been participating in Poetry Downtown Rutland for a few years by sharing poems that are displayed in in Rutland, Vermont. This year, 76 poets were featured including April Tia Glasgow with Men make monsters to slay them, Hiram Larew with Clatter, and Laura Gravel with Villanelle for Renee and Best Country in the World. My poem was "Reciprocation."

Where We Meet Magazine

My poem, I Don't Want Roses, was published on page 52 in Issue #1 of Where We Meet Magazine.

Krafty Pages ChronicleS Magazine

I have several poems featured in Volume II of the Krafty Pages ChronicleS Magazine: I am a Mangrove on Page 16, My Peace on Page 61 and The Password and Nature's Palette on Page 17. This issue also features Tiffany Brewley's poem, Love that Binds on page 49, Nita Chase's poem, My Love Language on page 59, and Nikiesha McMaster's features on page 24 and 108. There's also a special feature on Ashanti Taylor-Alexander, the creator of Pulse Poetry Magazine on pages 112-113. 

Orenaug Mountain Publishing Poetry Roundtable

On Saturday, April 4, 2026, I participated in the Orenaug Mountain Publishing Poetry Roundtable which featured Prithvijeet Sinha. I shared two pieces, The Countdown and Going Over the Speed Limit.

Pulse Poetry Magazine

The April 2026 Issue of Pulse Poetry Magazine showcases Queen Poetry as the featured poet. Read work from Klassy Poet, Eloquent Pearlfection, Lisa ‘Lipps’ Davis and Nelly Vee. My poems in this issue are The Message in the Music and Sweet Lady. Pulse Poetry Magazine provides an opportunity for poets to showcase their work. Thank you to Ashanti Taylor-Alexander for giving us this amazing platform!

Twin Pineapples

Micromance Magazine

Micromance Magazine published my poem, Sounds of Love, on April 27, 2026. I wrote this piece based on a prompt from Legendary Ink. 

The PoArtMo Magazine

My poem, Learning to be Loved, is featured in the The PoArtMo Magazine: Issue 2 – Childhood Dreams and Goals. 

“I had to hide and still had to seek”

Poetry on YouTube

Easter: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_C35yal9Wig
The Countdown: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/52VyDj0KAOc
Back at Ya: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-_fJCCb2yxw
How Easy We Forget: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DwEfBLKhJW0

New Poem

A Day without Music

if music didn’t exist for a day
the world would rotate anticlockwise
unhappiness would thrive
people would forget to smile
all fauna would be mute
and the seas would cease rolling
while the winds would no longer howl
trees would uproot due to boredom
because music is in every facet of life

© Linette Rabsatt 4-30-2026

Be inspired!

Antonymy Prompt - ambiguity vs clarity

In Oulipian usage, antonymy means the replacement of a designated element by its opposite. Each word is replaced by its opposite, when one exists (black/white) or by an alternative suggesting antonymy (a/the, and/or, glass/wood). Source: https://the-muse.org/poetry-prompt-april-25/

ambiguity

am I clear
maybe no
barely so
is it that
good words are not enough
unfit for clarity
instead
trained for brevity
yielding unclear and confusing directions

© Linette Rabsatt 4-17-2026

clarity

could I be unclear

definitely yes

regularly I am

it could never be that

bad words are what are needed

fit for confusion

set in place

untamed for the deluge

hiding clarity and simplicity

© Linette Rabsatt 4-25-2026

March 2026: Celebration of Poetry

My neighbor's cats

My March was filled with challenges:

• I challenged myself to write new poems
• I fought the flu
• I facilitated a consultation at work on an 'interesting' topic
• I had to do a lot of critical thinking and mind stretching
• I taught short poetry sessions for two classes: Grade 3 and Grade 4
• I had a strange chicken disrupt my porch garden

What is life without challenges? I stumble, trip, fall and fail, but I never give up. Invest in what grows you!

World Poetry Day

I shared a blog post for World Poetry Day 2026.

The Haiku Shack Magazine

My poem, The Lone Lily, is featured in The Haiku Shack Magazine Issue 6. 

Dimly Writ

My poem, Rockabye Baby, was published by Dimly Writ: Edition #2: Winter of 2026. It was inspired by a prompt from Legendary Ink. 

Pulse Poetry Magazine

The March issue of Pulse Poetry Magazine showcases Tiffany Marie as the featured poet and work from Nelly Vee, Lisa 'Lipps' Davis, Poetically Soul, Ashanti Taylor-Alexander, Eloquent Pearlfection. It also includes my poems, Love Above the Label and Invest in What Grows Me, on pages 9 and 10.

Orenaug Mountain Poetry Journal

When I Woke Up was published by Orenaug Mountain Poetry Journal on February 14, 2026.

A Celebration of Trees

Family Tree was published by Orenaug Mountain Poetry Journal in A Celebration of Trees anthology. You can purchase a copy here. 

West Indian Women Network

I participated in the West Indian Women Network’s International Women’s Day 2026 video along with Priscilla Ramcharan (founder), Professor Stephan Hughes, and Curthon Monroe. My share was a poem, A Talented Woman, written for my great-grandmother, Christiana Freeman, which I also dedicated to some amazing women in my family. 

The Dichotomy of Love Anthology
My poem, Hate vs. Love, has been published in the The Dichotomy of Love anthology available here. 

Call All Poets Series (CAPS) Second Tuesday Online Reading

Catherine Ronan from Ireland headlined the March 10, 2026 edition of the CAPS Second Tuesday quarterly reading. Other readers included Lenny Dellarocca, Josephine LoRe, Ron Bremner, Mary Louise Kiernan, and hosts, Mike Jurkovic & Greg Correll. I shared four pieces: I Have Some Ideas, I Stayed Because, Like Secondhand Smoke and The Wind. Do watch the entire video for some inspiring work!

Highland Park Poetry

Highland Park Poetry featured my poem, A Harsh Teacher, on March 27, 2026.

A Harsh Teacher

Poetry on YouTube

• Forbidden Desire: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/fY9Ql3kUSTk
• Erase and Embrace: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/k7MplCotssQ
• One with Words: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/eycnn_8SiXE
• Ugly Faces: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4gEEDAOT3_o

New Poem

Spring Breezes
I’m getting ready for April
because the wind
has everything in sway
so I know the 4th month
is on its way
dust particles fly
like oregano from the sky
and I wonder if the giant
who built the portal
is seasoning his prey for the feast
and as the breezes increase
I tilt my head to avoid
the dreaded allergens
for which my sinuses
cannot defend
I can’t wait until it’s May
when I can say
it’s getting closer to summer

© Linette Rabsatt 3-29-2026

World Poetry Day 2026

My Henito shirt designed by Anthony of 3AL Productions

It's World Poetry Day!

I started my World Poetry Day celebrations yesterday with the amazing students of Grades 3 and 4 of the Joyce Samuel Primary School. I wanted to share some inspiration with some young and bright minds. I was very excited to see their enthusiasm, creativity and willingness to participate!

I also attended the online poetry event, Oooh Beehive, hosted by Clive Oseman.

At both events, I shared my poem, One with Words, which I recorded for my Saturday video share. Of course, I am dressed by 3AL Productions.

One with Words
I write to become
One with words
To resuscitate
Not divide and conquer
To disseminate
What could be useful
Because I am hopeful
I remain an optimist
Not only to give you
A gist or a hint
But to tell it to you
Raw with details
To ensure that
You understand
My passionate chords
Of words
That I use to light
The fire to inspire
The desire
For you to want more
I write to become
One with words
And I share these thoughts
Free of cost

© Linette Rabsatt

Be inspired!

International Women's Day 2026

 

I wrote this short prose during an online writing workshop. I never thought much of it until I was looking for something to share for this commemoration. Women today carry many burdens. Pray for us.

My February 2026 - A Lot of New... and a New Poem

Mint, Tarragon and Basil

My February recap is short. However, I have had some new developments - poetically, agriculturally and professionally. 

• Professionally: I started a new role in an acting capacity. This experience has me learning, relearning, collaborating, listening and growing. I am the epitome of 'Give It Your Best Shot.' I'm going to do my best. I also received my SHRM-CP certification.
• Poetically: I continue to write. I attend poetry workshops. I share WhatsApp statuses of voice notes of my poems. I submit to journals and anthologies. I write.
• Agriculturally: I have expanded my offerings of Basil, Lemongrass and Tarragon to include Mojito/Apple Mint. I am also working on another mint.

I always say Invest in What Grows You. If you want to be successful, you have to put in the work. The work includes research, introspection, collaboration, humility, passion and perseverance. It also includes rest and fun!

Henito

I had the following poetry happenings in February.

Verse-Virtual

My poem, When Love was Pure, was published by Verse-Virtual. 

Gingerbread Ritual Literary Journal

Gingerbread Ritual Literary Journal featured two of my videos for Members and Navigation in Vol. 1.8 (January, 2026).

Pulse Poetry Magazine

The February issue of Pulse Poetry Magazine showcased featured poet: Lisa 'Lipps' Davis and Klassypoet. My poems are Lost in your Love and Sweet Lady on pages 19 and 20. Find poems from Nelly Vee on pages 21-23 and Toyer Fahie on pages 5-7. Other poets include C, Eloquent Pearlfection and Poetically Soulful.

Highland Park Poetry

In December 2025, my poem, A Harsh Teacher, was included in Highland Park Poetry’s The Muses Gallery. 

Syncopation Literary Journal

Syncopation Literary Journal is all about music and they published three of my poems: Music Calls Me, You are My Music and Musical Light. Click the download link by my name to read the pieces.

Poetry on YouTube

New to Me: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Wc3dQ4xbhE8

Web of Desire: https://youtube.com/shorts/K19kai76U0c

the ancestors cry: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_pblFKRzSWE

Only You: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/t8Sh2SyzSBQ

Spoken Word Tracks

1. I Wanna Dance with Somebody: https://soundcloud.com/clarencefergusonjr/i-wanna-dance-with-somebody-la
2. A Kaleidoscope Of Love: https://soundcloud.com/clarencefergusonjr/a-kaleidescope-of-love-la
3. I Think I Can: https://soundcloud.com/clarencefergusonjr/i-think-i-can-la-rabsatt\
4. The Recipe For Making Me: https://soundcloud.com/clarencefergusonjr/the-recipe-for-making-me-la
5. Broken: https://soundcloud.com/clarencefergusonjr/broken-la-rabsatt-vocals
6. Arrest: https://soundcloud.com/clarencefergusonjr/arrest-la-rabsatt-vocals

New Poem

I stayed because…

I thought
I was valued
making a difference
ensuring good influence
never thinking about consequences
because I felt good
but it wasn’t a good place
it was a deprived space
filled will envy
discord and mistrust
where people would
silently pray curses
I couldn’t understand
my sick feelings
reeling with pain
from my feet to my brain
almost at the brink
of insanity
yet I stayed
I wanted to be loyal
I saw myself as vital
but I was wrong
I should have left
not understanding
how the crest
indicates the wave
is about to dissipate
just as my faith
for staying in this place
I stayed because
I didn’t know that
I needed to go
to grow, glow and inspire

© Linette Rabsatt 2/28/2026

Be inspired!