Vote for SHINE-I and MACCABEE

I love me some Snoop Dog. He is one of my favorite artists. The flow and style bring music that will last through generations. I had to start my blog giving mad props to my boy, Snoop.

On the local tip, you need to call tonight to vote for local reggae artists, SHINE-I and MACCABEE on the ZROD Top 7 at 7 countdown. Shine-I's 'Glad' and Maccabee's 'What's Going On' are two thought provoking grooves which sing on the love that is needed in our lives, our community and our world today. If you are in the BVI, you need to be calling 494-1037 to request these songs. Also let me know if you need to book these guys for any event and I will put you in direct contact with them.

I love music and you will see that thought reiterated in my blogs. I grew up with a walkmn in my ears all the time. So if I can hear too well, forgive me. The music was good. It's still good today, but there are not that many choices like in the 90s.

All I can say is promote your local artists!

Women - Mothers ?

Many young women look at other women who are mothers and say: ‘I would not have my children attending daycare.’ ‘I would never breastfeed my child in public.’ ‘I would never have a tummy after having my baby because I would be in the gym right after the baby pops out.’ ‘I would not have children out of wedlock.’ ‘I am perfect.’ PLEASE! No one is perfect and life is not perfect. You may have your perfect life planned out and who cares? ‘I love my tummy.’ 

‘I loved breastfeeding with a blanket in public.’ ‘I love my children and their father.’ ‘I love being me – imperfect and flawed.’ So to those of you who wish to have that ‘perfect’ life, plan ahead to the fullest and get that perfect partner and perfect job and of course your big mansion on the hill.

Just as our normal parents survived, so we shall survive. I don’t mean to down on people with aspirations and goals because I have goals too. My goals are not to be rich though or to have prestige or to live a bourgeois lifestyle. I just was simple happiness and minimal stress. I hate to be bothered with things...cars, tenants etc. You may think that I am crazy for not wanting the lavish lifestyle of the rich and famous but that’s not for me. Give me some grants – let me help to educate people and make people feel appreciated. So to the ladies who are ‘perfect’, buzz off!

To the ways of the smart

I believe that I am sufficiently smart. I think most people are too. Yet, people in general tickle me. A few examples are:

1. We are all performing at an event that is to start at 7:00pm. I arrive at 7:00pm because I believe that is the smart thing to do. You arrive at 8:30pm when you think the house is full so that you can have a full audience to hear you and then laud you. Now, that's 'smart'.

2. A man visits a law office and says that he wants to divorce his wife because he is afraid of her and that she has attacked him with a machete. He did fail to mention that he kicked her first. Isn't he 'smart'?

3. A guy starts to hang around at the same places I hang out. We get to talking and he offers to clean my car and cook for me. He turns out to be such a 'good friend'. I consider him my best pal. Guy 2 meets me at the laundry, gives me his number and asks to take me out to dinner to get to know me better because he thinks the relationship can go somewhere...like marraige one day. I hook up with Guy 2 because he's smart.

There is no end to the examples that can be given and there is no moral to this story. Use your common sense and do what you think is right. After all, who likes a 'smart man' anyway?

Ribbon

Callaloo Poets 'open mic' on Saturday, October 18, 2008 at Mellow Moods

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

As part of Domestic Violence Awareness month, the Callaloo Poets and the Virgin Islands Improvement Association (VIIA) host an ‘open mic’ poetry event themed ‘ALL ABOARD: STOP OPPRESSING and START DEFENDING’ on Saturday, October 18, 2008 at 7:00pm at Mellow Moods in Road Town, Tortola, The Virgin Islands. Poets, Dancers and Musicians are asked to arrive by 6:45pm for signup.

Copies of ‘V.I. Callaloo: Poems from the Caribbean’ will be on sale. For persons who have already purchased their copy and would like it signed, please walk with it to the reading.

Theme: ALL ABOARD: STOP OPPRESSING and START DEFENDING
Date: Saturday, October 18, 2008
Time: 7:00pm
Place: Mellow Moods

REAL TALK to feature Callaloo Poets on Channel 51 and CORE MAGAZINE 1st Anniversary Issue in BVI

Check out Callaloo Poets - Linette & Sowande on REAL TALK with Karia Christopher on Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 7:30PM on Channel 51. Be sure to check it out!

Also, CORE Magazine has released its 1st Anniversary issue featuring our own Revelation, Ritical, Alton Bertie and Kamau Georges. Poetry by the Callaloo Poets is also featured in this FREE issue which has Rock City on the cover. Delve into this issue to read about Avalanche, Jam Tyme Band, CORE Fashion and much more.

No Callaloo Poets Poetry Reading in May

There will be no Poetry Reading on the third Saturday of this month - May 17. Instead, we encourage you to attend HLSCC's Talent Extravaganza at the HLSCC Auditorium on May 17, 2008 at 7:00PM. This enjoyable evening will highlight local artists displaying their various talents.

Our next reading will be on June 21, 2008 at 6:00PM at La Fantasea by the Sea in Duff's Bottom. Performers are asked to arrive for sign up at 5:45PM. The theme will be announced shortly. The July reading will follow as usual at Mellow Moods.

The POET in ME

I took a week off from writing in my blog and I ended up wiriting more poetry. So I think I need a good balance in my writing. Check this out:

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


I have just been playing around with words a lot more and have been able to think of topics and compose. I feel like I have grown as a writer. I guess too that since I am the one coming up with the topics, there is no pressure to write in a certain way or to focus to a certain audience.

I typically don't like to write for competitions or when asked to perform at certain events unless I have a piece or pieces already written on that theme. What I hate more is when the persons asking you to perform request that you include certain ideas or issues in the poem. Excuse me, you should have written the poem yourself then. Let my inspiration flow and work in the theme. Anything else is forced and shows in the performance.

I wrote a piece for my sister's wedding and I did not even try to rhyme - I played with a concept and it worked and I was happy with it.

Of course, I love writing happy pieces but I have a piece to write for my great aunt's funeral and it does make me sad. I plan to word it not as a 'missing you' piece but as a higlight of her accomplishments. I may share that one with you.

I didn't create this blog to share poetry. I created it to improve my writing overall. I guess the poet in me must share a piece every now and then.

ribbon