Music Makes Me Tick

Sweet reggae has an effect on me that I just can not explain. It makes me mellow and then I start to sing in a high falsetto and smile. Ras Attitude, Niyorah and Pressure are US Virgin Islands reggae artists who have a knack for really making me smile. I think it's just the positive lyrics that always promote a healthy image of a woman and also of the family unit.

Of course my British Virgin Islands brothers like Shine-I, Maccabee, Capable, Imo and Ritical bring the hard-hitting positive vibe as well.

I love most kinds of popular music - soca, reggae, dancehall, R&B and hip-hop. If you get me in the right mood, I may listen to some pop and enjoy it.

Music is really my favorite hobby and pasttime after writing poetry of course. I can only dream about composing lyrics because I am just straight up poetess. I leave the song lyrics to the lyricists.

the beat
and the vibe
touch me
embrace me
making me convulge
in a manner
not expected
even when
driving
I can't keep still
It's the music
the music
the music
YEAH YEAH
RAH RAH
I just
love the music

ribbon

POEM: Cloud Love

Above
my fears
above my dreams
stands strength
hope and love
and this is only so
because your love
rings strong and sets me
straight
no longer narrow
but love wide
enough to fill the ocean
and capture the skies
since you came around
it's a new dawning
a new morning
a new beginning
a strong feeling
it's a perfect rhythm
style and fashion
of beauty
poise
and refined peace
it's love
in the highest sense
highest form
highest order
sent from above
Cloud love

Words

this is mind-blowing sex
yes I said sex
because you blow my mind
with your word sex
you are suave
slick, smooth
and sly
and I like you
like that
that sex
that makes me
quiver
with
just two words
'Hi Honey'
the opener
that opens my mind
to accept
your sex
O how I love
to hear you
speak
so direct
so street
so sweet
that
figurative words
can't contain
how I want to
literlly
love you
yes
and your
mind-blowing sex
is all I need to get me going

You have done it all

You have become my strength
Filling voids so deep and so expansive
That I feel so filled
So rich
And so complete

You release my inspiration
Making me more creative
More powerful
With more of a flow
That gives me the real high

You are my source of love
It’s not how I love you
It’s how I need you
You calm my fears
And more and more
Everyday
I need you near

The joy that you bring
Is intense
I’m so elated
And so enriched
With happiness
Every time you smile at me

I am now solidly happy
Strengthened
Inspired
Loving
Joyous
With these feelings you
You make me complete

Right & Just

Haiti has trembled, Port-au-Prince is crumbled and Haitians are in need of help. California's beaches are receding. The BVI's nasty little secrets of pollution, environmental degradation and lack of proper waste management practices are trickling to the big world.

Crime is everywhere. AIDS is everywhere. Cancer is striking both young and old. It seems to be a worldwide epidemic of global suffering.

CNN's cry is that the survivors of the earthquake have a harder fight in staying alive - water, food and medicine are what are needed.

As all the different issues go on in the world, I sit at home trying to figure out why there is no UNITY among us all. It appears that even in times of crises, we are divided. I cannot understand or fathom what the agenda - hidden or known might be. The only agenda for me right now is to do what is right and just!

POEM: What have I done?

What have I done to help the oppressed?
Have I ever said a good word to one who is depressed?
Do I behave like I am human when I am stressed?
Or do I act like I don't know people when i am dressed?
Up and down the road of life as each daily move brings us strife,
why can't we treat each other better?
Why should you be hungry while I get fatter?
Why should you always be first and then I am left behind for your laughter?
Will you smile in my face as your lies get more craftier?
Don't you think that you are your brother's keeper?
Don't you think that we should all be richer?
Are you focused only on material things?
Aren't you tired of dragging others people's purse strings?
Don't you think it's time to spread your wings?
Don't you know what showing love can bring?
Don't you know how a good deed can begin?
Do I need to lose for you to win?
Or can we all just forgive each other's sins?

ribbon

Soca in Me Waist

I love SOCA music. It is so me, so Caribbean, so BVI, so cultural and so moving. You can speak about issues in a smart way while getting the populace to wine and basically exercise their cares away - without whining! Everyone knows I love a good play on words.

My children seem to love SOCA too. I find awesome videos on YouTube, like Claudette Peters, Alison Hinds, Peter Ram, Rupee, Kevin Lyttle. Of course, these are the artists that have been able to receive full Caribbean fame and some are internationally recognized as well.

In the past, I wanted to be a calypsonian but I'm not really a good enough singer to pull that off. I have a friend and fellow poet, April, who has that voice and that range to sing, sing and sing! She's definitely going to do many great things in her lifetime. Ribbon said it!

For me, SOCA is the best music to exercise to. I tried that Soulja Boy business, but I was out of breath. lol Of course, the children loved that music too. They are born into the generation of hyped yet lyrically empty music so I guess it is my job to ensure that they get a taste of examples of lyrically deep music.

I'm not saying that I have the greatest collection, but I do have some Luther Vandross, Bob Marley and Steel Pulse in my house - of course this is the music that I appreciate. If you have some Bach or Bon Jovi - that's all good too!

Whatever your taste - enjoy and appreciate it. I love my soca, reggae, gospel, R&B and Hip Hop but for keeping in shape - SOCA is the way!

POEM: Taking Turns

Taking Turns

Only the Father can turn us around:
He heals our pain,
He forgives our sins,
and He gives us true joy within.

Our Father never turns us away;
instead, He leads us,
He keeps us safe,
and He makes our journeys easier.

He never turns us out:
our Father stays with us,
gives us love and strength,
and all we need to do is have faith.

Our Father turns a hard heart into soft matter:
Yes! Our Father builds bridges,
He solves our problems,
and all we have to do is to believe.

Turning us around - healing and forgiving,
Never turning us away - accepting us as we are,
Never turning us out - still loving and strengthening us...
Only our Father can do all these things and more.

© LR

Holiday wishes and prayers

Wishing you joy
Wishing you peace
May your dreams materialize
May your love increase!
Praying for your life
Praying for your strength
May you reach higher & higher
May the Father keep you in good health!

All the best for the season and for the upcoming 2010!

© Linette Rabsatt 2010

2009 to 2010

It's that time of the year again - time to reflect on the past 360 plus days and plan for the upcoming 360 plus once God grants us the days.

Many people are caught up in spending trying to please everyone. This year, I am trying to suffice with the little that I have while enjoying simple things and planning for the future.

So to the ladies who must splurge, Google search my poem 'Where do you live?' for my opinion on that.

Seriously and positively, I do hope for a quiet end for 2009 and a productive start for 2010. In my progression of moving with like minds - people who are goal oriented, serious but yet have their fun, I think that I have a good friend circle - and this is important. My circle includes single parents, married parents, entrepeneurs, masterminds, limers, realists, real revolutionaries, poets, artistes, lovers etc etc.

From the planets to the bees or the ants - everything is about balance. 'Want all get NONE.' Do you see the ants taking more than they need? Do bees sting you just because? Did you really need that pair of Jordans when the Reeboks could do the job? Did you really need that Dodge truck when the Mazda burns less gas? Did you balance your check book? Do you give back to the community in anyway?

These are questions that I must ask myself as I try to be a responsible adult. It's not about the show or the fame, but it's more about living a healthy lifestyle and keeping life in balance.

I don't do News Years resolutions because January 1 should not be the waiting date for me to act right or do right. For example, I wanted to blast a lady who stole a parking space from me today but I keep my words inside my car. 'Do so don't like so.' That woman is not worth it. I think I handled it well (the man in the white truck might say differently lol lol).


Don't be stuck in the same trends
Let's live right to the end
by starting right in 2009 & 2010!