POEM: No Sight

It's always a blast
a hard word
or a push
when there is no foresight
hindsight
or insight
but until we act right
then there'll never be delight
just fright
blight
not a unite
but a fist fight
for both black and white
want their future to be bright
sigh
sight is blinded

ribbon

Lend a Helping Hand

If you ever get into a position to help others, it is a blessing to do so. You may feel that noone helps you when you ask for it but God is always there for us.

There are always ways for problems to be solved. Sometimes, we just have to persevere and struggle through the turmoil. However, we don't want to be regarded as pushovers so be mindful of those who try to use and abuse you.

Despite the users, offering a helping hand is good. It's a great fulfillment in knowing that your small input may have made someone's day.

One while I was driving, I saw a little boy with his father walking. A bottle dropped from the boy's hand and somehow he got cut on his hand. I immediately stopped and bid them to come in my car so I could take them to the hospital. I can't fathom seeing things like that happen in front of me. I have children of my own and would hope that other people would not leave them to suffer.

Afterall, none of us would want our sins to fall on our children. We all want to live in peace and harmony. We all want the best for our familes. However, it can't be only about the 'we' in a small group - it has to be about the entire community.

Please take care of each other and help anyone that you see in need.

ribbon

Happiness on the Job

Happiness on the job does not mean a perfect job. It may be the job that's outside your field, that you may be overqualified for or are underpaid and underappreciated.

However, going past the basic needs of a clean work environment, water and basic tools, employees need to know that they contributions are appreciated even if their suggestions are not always implemented. Supervisors need to listen to the people in the trenches and sometimes walk in the trenches to understand the day-to-day runnings.

Gossip is a killer on the job and so is micro-management and backbiting. I have worked in the midst of all of this and it is no pleasant. I will never tell anyone to be the 'yes man' and never refuse an assignment. You have to say no and stand up to your peers and supervisors when needed. People are always looking for a scapegoat, a gossip partner, a news carrier or work horse. Living as one of those person does not bring happiness on the job. Instead it brings misery.

Lack of teamwork brings a lot of negativity. However, the team can only be strong if the manager has that motivating and inspiring attitude that can get diverse people to work together. When we focus on differences we can't get any work done.

Happiness on the job for me means that the team has each other's back and can achieve success amongst conflicts. There will be conflicts and challenges everywhere in life. Never feel that happiness means that nothing can go wrong. Only babies are allowed to live that way because parents or other adults are there to foster their needs.

Try to avoid or sidestep the negative on the job. Focus on getting the job done and even if you are not treated well, still perform to the best of your ability until you are able to solve your troubles or move on to another position. Afterall, we are only set to be in one place for a time. At some point we will be moving on - preferably forward!

Poem: Unwilling Prey

Enticing
It calls my name...silently
I try to never look its way
but yet it always seems to find me
'Take me home'
it says with emphasis
but I never want to go near
Many times I run away
from its pull
but I never can run far away
because its attraction
defeats me
although I am unwilling prey
this captor graciously
takes me into its den
knowing that my fortitude
will soon dissolve
and I will take a dip
into the sea which draws me in

ribbon

Writing Poems About Children

Poems about children can be written to speak from a child's perspective or can be written about childhood experiences to convey strong messages.

Poetry is a great art-form to express feelings about nature, people, life, inanimate objects and the world as a whole. Writing poems about children is a great way to reminisce about childhood or to convey a message from a child's perspective. The message may not always be positive as sometimes it becomes necessary for an important message which has negative undertones to be shared.

Compose the Poem for the Intended Audience

Writing for the intended audience is very important regardless of the topic or type of writing. While a poem may be written about children, the poem can be catered for children to read or for adults.

• Poems written for children: If the poem is written to be shared with children, then be mindful of the message being conveyed. Avoid any inappropriate words and very unpleasant references. Simple words with a simple tone can bring across the inspiration. Keep a simple rhyme scheme especially if the poem is to be performed for children. An example of lines could be "A pretty red ribbon/ sits in Diane's hair/ her happiness is shown/in the colors she wears"
• Poems for adult readers: While any theme can be written to be shared with an adult audience, be mindful of religion, gender and other topics that can cause discomfort of controversy. This can affect book sales and requested performances at schools, churches and events.

Poems from a Child's Perspective

Writing from another perspective entails some brainstorming and creative thought. Think of how active and lucid a child's imagination is. Write using colors, vivid scenes and simple words and phrases. Also, write in the first person. Although the message may have negative undertones such as child abuse, it is important to keep the message coming from a child's viewpoint. An example is: "I don't know why you hit me I was a good boy I didn't mean to break the toy".

Poems about Childhood Experiences

Poems about children can speak in any voice about childhood events. Again, tailoring the writing for audience is very important. These types of poems if written for an adult audience can share messages about divorce, abuse, assault and any other vice. Regardless of the speaker, "I, you or she", be sure to convey the poem with an imaginative flair and with vivid description. Be creative by using imagery and vivid descriptions. An example is: "You have grown. You have elapsed from the angel that everyone believed that you were. From sleeping in the den and then tasting the jams and jellies - licking your fingers as you run and hide".

Composing poems about children requires innovation and creativity because the writing can bring back memories of childhood experiences. However, while some childhood experiences may be negative, the message should still be shared because it may impact positively on the readers. Write for the audience and incorporate writing that appeals to the senses so that the readers or listeners can understand the poem.

Ribbon's Quick Thoughts - How I Feel Today

I guess I'm a pin cushion
cause you all keep pricking me
it doesn't matter cause I won't chook back
cause Father God knows and has my back........

ribbon

Cart before the Horse or Horse before the Cart?

My grandmother would always say that you can put the cart before the horse. Even at a young age, I understood what it meant. As an adult, I see this even more clearly now. I don't think that is my BA degree that brings it to fruition because plain old common sense can tell you so.

The cart can't pull the horse, the horse has to pull the cart. So it's that simple? Then why do we see things coming and never put the right initiatives in place to increase performance or reduce loss. You can't plan for the damage a natural disaster can cause but you can educate your people to be ready. We are good at getting that word out.

However, where we suck is with our infrastructure and human resources. These two facets are the building blocks of any country. There is no industry without good infrastructure. There is no future without people to preserve the culture and to form your labour force.

We get a bare passing grade for our education and I give a 'D' because the special needs students are not a serious priority. We have to get out of the mentality of hiding these children because they have special gifts. They must grow up and become members of the community. This is a major issue that is continually surpassed because we do not have programs to integrate them into the wider community where possible.

Our infrastructure - the core behind any country, needs work and this means money. We have spent millions of dollars trying to give the place an aesthetically pleasing appearance but we have not dealt with the major issues of the supply of clean water, disposal of sewerage, electrical supply, solid waste disposal and road improvement.. I will say plainly to any person that hiring a consultant or giving a contract to a foreign company which drags its feet is not a solution.

We seem to have a "dummy" sign on our backs and this is sad. We have spent millions educating the youth in various fields but we seem not to trust their judgement. We pay the consultants and then shelf their reports if they completed same in the first place.

The country's labor force is either in the private or public sector. The private sector is at the mercy of the persons installed to regulate employment practices. This does not always seem to go well. It is very sad because such persons have to try their utmost best to be unbiased and fair in their dealings with the public. The public sector is governed by rules that are designed to repress their freedom of speech.

We'd hope that there would be more calypsonians in this country who can sing in parables about the plight of the country. However we notice that certain leaders are not for that artistic side which is the one true freedom of speech that any artist has.

So what are we to do? I believe in solutions. We know what the problems are. In many cases we know the root of said problems. I believe that we have to make some hard decisions to get the country forward. However, we have several persons who prefer to see the place run to the dogs so that they can get their cutback.

So who's the cart and who's the horse?

ribbon