The November Haiku & Seventeen Syllables This collection is to serve as a tribute to, and an analysis of, Barbadian culture, society, history and heritage, expressed in a poetic style not typically practiced locally. This collection comprises 46 haiku and seventeen syllable poems; one for each year of independence as of 2012. Happy Independence Bimshire! Enjoy!
i.
Blue, yellow and blue; dismantled Union Jack. Trident now broken.
ii.
For want of a broken trident I broke the trident into pieces
iii.
Look upon my back, a broken, broken trident. True independence.
iv.
These fields and hills are beyond recall – gone away. Their vacation homes.
v.
His Excellency, The Lord, surveys her command. Quiet hill top view.
vi.
From outside they look in and say it is good; we nod our heads – yes yes!
vii.
Proud child of the soil, planting roots in foreign land. We value them not.
viii.
Rarely ever seen, politicians come in five. Ants build hills in spring.
ix.
The peak: Parliament. The higher the monkeys climb, the more ass we see.
x.
How do we all know when the gay yuletide is here? We have no snowmen.
xi.
Raised stupid under the Union Jack Don’t want we bathe pun beaches.
xii.
A little black boy strolling Strathclyde after dark. Roach at fowl cock dance.
xiii.
Bare Federation! Riots all bout in Bridgetown! th July 26 .
xiv.
Be a friend to all. Be a satellite of none. Dipper in the sky.
xv.
Two taps of a sword brings knight to St. Andrew as land slides in Scotland.
xvi.
Cricket with palm branches. Straight drives in between houses. How legends are made.
xvii.
From chattel houses’ open eyes and open mouths come great house secrets.
xviii.
A covered landscape; one on every plantation. Toss up a nickel.
xix.
African remnants in jolly old Little England. Hermit crab and shell.
xx.
Looka poor whitey. Face black like ole Arthur’s brew. Dem poor red leg boys.
xxi.
No more Taino. Not a single Arawak. The bajan raccoon?
xxii.
In Deo Fides! Fierce rivalries keep burning. Marching, Up and On!
xxiii.
Boom ruk-a-tuk boom -kittle, bass, triangle, flute -boom ruk-a-tuk boom.
xxiv.
Climbing up greased poles; rowdy boys and men compete. New butterflies fly.
xxv.
Nourishing words sound. Powerful poetic works. A strong Bajan Green.
xxvi.
Music of the Sun, like diamonds in the sky. You are Hypnotised.
xxvii.
Just like the red string; red ribbons tie destiny. One love, one tragic.*
xxviii.
How can an island so flat reach such heights and peaks? Silent killer: AIDS.*
xxix.
Move Rastafari! Rockers ain’t the place for yuh. Jackass in horse race.**
xxx.
Lions do not swim. They say Ras jump and swan dive. Rest I’Akobi.**
xxxi.
Unnatural death in police company is just misadventure.**
xxxii.
The gate-door brek down! Bull-cow loose and pun de road! Try and reverse-back!
xxxiii.
Turning meal cou-cou takes a steady, expert hand. Old time tradition.
xxxiv.
One church, one rumshop; people full of the spirit. Weeknight rituals.
xxxv.
De mauby woman; sweet nectar pun top she head -now Sweet and Dandy.
xxxvi.
Black bitch, guava cheese, tamarind balls, sugar cakes. Sweet tooth and sweet smile.
xxxvii.
Hips sway with rhythm. Bellies swell with cassava. Landships always sweet.
xxxviii.
Hear the Captain say, “Now come down when ah call yah!” Dancing to lowtown.
xxxix.
xl.
The blacker de cane, the easier um does cut. Bitter sugar doh. Monkeys play in trees. Hot folk in town drink water; monkeys keep it cool.
xli.
Palm trees bend and sway. Green monkeys frolic and play. Trade winds sweet fuh days.
xlii.
Tropical sunsets set evening skies ablaze. Hot Kaleidoscope.
xliii.
Blue, pink, red, crimson. Slowly sinks the setting sun. Choral crickets chirp.
xliv.
Of coral limestone; risen from the ocean floor: Ichirouganaim.
xlv.
Sitting just outside, angry winds and rains pass by. God is a Bajan.
xlvi.
Fourteen, twenty-one, one hundred and sixty-six. Boundless hopes and dreams.
* pieces from 'AIDS: Something Serious' ** pieces from 'Rastafari Out Of Sight'
Bonus Material Some people pay too much attention to hem lines and not to teaching. Uncle Tom sits under the ass of Uncle Sam. Camels backs’ break easy.
Coincidental 17 Beautiful, beautifu,l Barbados. Gem of the Caribbean Sea.
Bridgetown early, Saturday morning, see the women, how dem calling. - Anthony Carter Good evening caller, this is Down to Brass Tacks, and you are on the air.