February 2025: The Ongoing Poetic Journey and a New Poem

February had its share of triumphs and rejections. I always say that for every poem a publication accepted, other publications rejected twenty others. I work harder and submit more. I've never been a quitter and will continue to push my pen.

Remember, these words from my poem, Revisited:

... words written

and hidden

are no use

share them and let someone peruse

Here is my journey for February 2025.

Pulse Poetry Magazine
The February issue of Pulse Poetry Magazine featured poems by Toyer Fahie, Nelly and I and the other awesome contributors. I shared Deny in honor of my mother and The Nurturer for those with love on their minds.

Louisiana Lyricists Lounge: Open Mic
I performed during the February 1, 2025 open mic hosted by Louisiana Lyricists Lounge. Special thanks to PAWCRAM da Poet for creating this venue. I shared Mama's Prayers from 11:29. This was the first open mic that PAWCRAM hosted and it was very well supported. The poets shared some heavy inspiration.

The Fertile Brains Open Mic
I joined The Fertile Brains Open Mic on February 2, 2025 and shared Inspiration, a poem inspired by a writing prompt in Papi's Poetry Corner MVP Facebook Group. I'm on from 44:08 until 45:41. The Fertile Brains Open Mic showcases poets from across the world. 

Talentourney Feature
Aleks Hannibal, a fellow poet from Trinidad and Tobago featured me on his webpage, Talentourney. He has been hosting writing competitions to encourge us to keep our inspiration flowing. Three of my pieces are featured, My Love's Locked Down, Yellow and Filled with Flaws.

Cultivating Voices Live Poetry
I shared Sight (CAPS Anthology) during the Cultivating Voices Live Poetry which featured Lynda VE Crawford and Indran Amirthanayagam, two well-traveled and published poets. 

Syncopation Literary Journal
My poem, Music Is, was published in the Syncopation Literary Journal on February 3, 2025. Follow the link and look for my name. This is one of my pieces from the archives.

Lucid Voices Black History Month Open Mic
I shared in the Lucid Voices Black History Month Open Mic, hosted by Adonis Richards. I shared My Thoughts on Black Love.

All Your Stories Magazine
My short story, A Bird's Life, was published in All Your Stories Magazine February 2025: Quick Reads and Memories. It's available on the magazine's website and Amazon (Kindle and printed).

Micromance Magazine
My poem, Sweet Lady, was published by Micromance Magazine. I was inspired by a writing prompt shared by Ashanti Taylor from Pulse Poetry Magazine to write a poem based on Sweet Lady by Tyrese Gibson.

Calling All Poets Series Reading
The February 7, 2025 session of Calling All Poets Series featured Megha Sood, Linda McCauley Freeman and Harvey Soss. I performed my poem, Pages to be Fulfilled, from 1:52:50 to 1:54:00 during the open mic. Open mic poets included Tom Holland, Heather Kays, Patricia Carragon, Richard Spisak, Rich Boucher and many more talents.

Ameslounge Interview
I am grateful for the interview with Andrea M. Echols of Ameslounge on February 8, 2025. I shared two pieces with her, Granny Said a Lot and De-Stress.

Highland Park Poetry
Shout out to Highland Park Poetry for featuring my poem, Subtle. Do let me know if you think it is subtle or frank!

Artist Feature: Diamond Plus
This month, I featured Diamond Plus, an artist from the Virgin Islands. Read more to learn about him and check out his sound.

WOC This Way for Poetry
My poem, Love and Affection, was published by WOC This Way for Poetry on February 14, 2025. It was written based on a prompt with Pressure's song, Love and Affection, as the inspiration.

February 16, 2025 Poetry Events
Inspired Poetry Corner
I had the honor of listenting to the featured poet, Stella Magal, at the Sunday at the Corner, hosted by the Inspired Poetry Corner. I was able to share two pieces during the open mic, Honeybee and Writer's Block. I'm on from 1:19:59. The entire reading was an awesome experience.

Cultivating Voice Live Poetry
I performed during the Wild Card Open Mic along with a group of talented poets from all over the world. I shared Honeybee and The Panther Within.

Silver Birch Press
My poem, Sweet, was shared by Silver Birch Press on February 16, 2025 in their series, My Favorite Things. Of course, it is an ode to my favorite tart filling, pineapple.

Haiku Feature
Thank you to St. Petersburg Library System for featuring my haiku on February 18, 2025.

New Video for Erase and Embrace
I've uploaded a new video, Erase and Embrace. The title was inspired by the talented Nita Chase. Please leave a comment with your feedback! Thank you for your kind support!

February 22-23 Readings
Let's Poet
I performed during the February 22 edition of Let's Poet with Nita Chase and some other amazing poets. I shared My Thoughts on Black Love and Stitched Love.

The Fertile Brains
I shared Fruit on the Vines and This Piece of Me during the February 23 edition of The Fertile Brains open-themed recital. Grateful to be performing with poets from India.

Pour Your Heart Out Open Mic
The February 23, 2025 edition of the Pour Your Heart Out Open Mic, hosted by Nakenyia Sheree Stokes, was a beautiful experience with feature poet, Vitamin D. Poets who graced the mic included De'Asia Thompson, Pawcram DaPoet and Emanuel Cole. I shared a tanka, This Escape, and a new piece, The Ladder of Hope.

Sense & Sensibility
My haiku was featured in Sense & Sensibility. Click the link for my piece and several others.

New Poem

This poem is a Renga and it was inspired by a prompt from Nelly Vee of KVI Network Creations, LLC.

Split Personalities

bury the hatchet

let go, forgive and forget

regret is wasteful

forgiveness – no, not this time

their lies hurt me to the core

turn the other cheek

just be the bigger person

you can still trust them

bitten already – no way

trust is out of the picture

give them one more chance

just continue to be nice

your good deeds will stand

not accepting disrespect

this nonsense must end today

© Linette Rabsatt 2-26-2025

Upcoming Interview

I have an interview on Saturday, March 1 at 8:00 pm IST which is 10:30 am BVI time. I will share the link.

Meet Diamond Plus aka Puny Lukey Don, Artist from St. Thomas, VI

Diamond Plus aka Puny Lukey Don

I met this artist online. He is my cousin, Jevon Rabsatt, who I found on Facebook. I reached out to him to ask questions about our family tree and found out that he has been into music since he was a teenager. I chatted with Diamond Plus aka Puny Lukey Don on February 8, 2025, while he was in Gambia to learn more about his music and journey.

 

What inspired you to become an artist?

Diamond Plus shared that he grew to love music just from listening to it. He recalled that Beenie Man and Buju Banton had a great impact on him. He saw Beenie Man at a concert in St. Thomas and was so enthralled that he became determined to be an artist. He also saw Buju Banton in concert on another occasion and decided he really wanted to pursue music professionally.

 

Diamond Plus also recalled that he would chant and sing along with his nephew, Romeo, who was a good drummer. He also shared the first time he saw 2Ekwip, who we now recognize as Timothy and Theron Thomas of R. City. Diamond Plus shared that those boys were quite young at the time but would come to his brother-in-law’s studio to record music. He was amazed at their talent and drive at their age and became more determined to push and nurture his talent. Diamond Plus would hang around them and chant with them.

 

He fondly shared a memory from his 8th Grade year at a Team Rally, which involved all the local schools. Diamond Plus said that he along with Maurice ‘Verse’ Simmonds and Rakeem, now deceased, competed in a competition. Diamond Plus was declared the winner. These various experiences all help to inspire the artist we know today as Diamond Plus.

 

What was your first single that you put out?

My first release was Gal from All Nation. It was also my first dancehall song, released in 2001 while I was still in high school.

The hook:

“Gal from all nation is on the dance floor, Puny Dan ah come an dem ah broke out like sore, well if you love they style then scream out for more, cause badman no deal with whores.”

Who helped you to get your music out there?

 Tony Gee was one of my first producers that helped me to grow, taught me to record, and put me on Boston airwaves. He did a show with Movado and took me to Gambia for the first time. Dis N Dat band with sister Debbie and Rango aew who 'buss my live' in Boston and surrounding areas. I would do sold out gigs with them in and around New England.

Who is your team behind the music?

My DJ is Jagga Movements. My support team includes my close friends who believe and support me. I currently manage myself along with the support of the LUKEY Family, who encourage and support me on the journey. I thank God for his continued guidance.

Diamond Plus purchases beats online and often works with Abu Shaq, a talented producer based in the Gambia.

What does LUKEY mean?

LUKEY means Loyal United Kings Educating Youths. Olord Lukey Don, Diamond Plus, and Lukey Flames are the founding members. Anything in the positive light that brings uplift-ment to the world, to each other, a teacher, a blogger, a good dad, someone that tells the younger generation to stay away from drugs etc. - that’s considered Lukey. If my friends read this article they will say, .. 'that article on you is Luke, my boy, or it's Lukey.'

 

What are your plans for your music for 2025 and beyond?

I want to release another EP entitled Diamond Time Now and drop some new singles. I already have the music but I’m continuing to work on the visuals.

 

“I know I have the hits in all genres but they just need to be shown in the light”

 

What type of music do you listen to and who are the top artists on your playlist?

I listen to a variety of music - I try to stay away from negative music even though I support the various genres.

• Lovers Rock – as much as I have the bad boy aura, I still have a lot of love in my heart!
• Hip hop
• Afrobeat
• Dancehall
• Gospel
• Soca

My top artists include: Ruger, Busy Signal, Vybe Kartel, Buju Banton, Sizzla, and Pressure.

 

“I cut my dreads but still am a Rasta!”

 

What’s your writing process?

I like to flow from the top of my head – I don’t pre-write. Inspiration comes from anything – could be a word, or seeing someone pass by. I like to keep myself grounded in the way I make music – I write from different perspectives.

 

Diamond Plus aka Puny Lukey Don

As we chat today, you are on the African continent. Tell us about your experience.

Gambia is beautiful. It’s a little warm right now. There’s a lot of love being shown and I also consider it home. Africa is not like what we see on TV. I was inspired to travel to Africa because DJ Jagga Movements inspired and encouraged me. I performed at a show with Movado and the crowd was over thirty thousand strong.

 

Within Diamond Plus’ first four days in Gambia, one of the DJ’s friends was transporting him. He saw a flyer in the car for an upcoming show and started freestyling about the headliner’s name and the name of the show. The driver recorded him and sent the video to the featured artist. When Diamond Plus arrived at his hotel, he went to shower. When he was finished, he met several people waiting for him because they all wanted to hear him freestyle. That interaction opened the door for him to meet Attack and they both visited the studio to record the song the next few days. The song was released and within the first 8 days, it captured over 100K views on YouTube. To date, Hundred Taw has over 300,000 streams on YouTube. Diamond Plus said that the feedback was overwhelming and people love the song.

The culture of Gambia is love! Africa is home! I encourage everyone to touch down on the motherland. I love the versatility of the music here.

 

What stage have you always dreamed of performing on?

I would love to perform at a big concert in the USA with over 30,000 people in the crowd. I would also like to perform at stage shows in the USVI and BVI – from St Thomas to Tortola.

 

Which artists would you want to collaborate with (local, regional, and international)?

Diamond Plus works with other artists by co-writing, mentoring, collaborating, and being featured.

 

I would love to collaborate with R City, Pressure Buss Pipe, and any upcoming artist who is willing to work with me. On a national level, it would be Busta Rhymes.

 

Share something with the readers that most people don’t know about you.

• I am a very humble, praying, and caring guy.
• I follow the lead from God.
• I am willing to go above and beyond to help upcoming artists.
• I want the best for everybody. While people may think it’s a competition, that’s not the case.

 

Please share some advice for the younger generation.

• Keep a prayerful life
• Don’t follow bad company
• Work hard for what you want
• Don’t let anyone throw their fears on you

 

Anything else you’d like to share?

• I encourage everyone to subscribe to my social media: Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
• I have lots of videos coming soon because I want to fulfill my fan’s requests for more visuals.
• I am working hard this year to please my fans.
• I am going to continue getting back to the roots and my prayerful times.
• I want to spend more time with my family.