Looking forward all winter for my vacation
A three-day excursion put on by We Are One Nation
We parked our RV’S near the foothill,
then hiked and climbed top of the cliff and met Will
When the sign appeared Reggae Pon the Mountain,
we were quickly escorted to the water fountain
Come and jam to the tunes of the Marleys
Hanga-langa and check out the Harleys
The Jamaican food—colorful, soulful—sublime
One look and I knew right away I would need more time
to enjoy Reggae 'Pon The Mountain
We bought masks, jewelry and tasted the cookies
Ingredients pure, strong, overwhelmed—we felt like rookies
C’mon stay mon, enjoy the music all day, sangalanga on Topanga
You know the Canyon known for the rock-stars?
Three days of festive delight, tonight be romantic, sleep in your cars!
Our host thanked us and said Jah be with you, Rastafari
We waved as he drove off in his Ferrari
We’ll be back tomorrow for the Caribbean callaloo
where we’ll stay all day and enjoy the hullaballoo
A music festival up on the mountain
Categories:
callaloo, appreciation, vacation,
Form: Rhyme
CALLIOPSIS
(For M.M.E)
My calliopsis,
One beatified breath in me
A rolling ray in my race
Tender softness in my embrace
My calliopsis,
Elephantine influence in me
Dissolving magic in my blood
Thou art my victory and my sword
My calliopsis,
The only strength left in me
The Soprano in my song
The magical sweetness in my tongue
My calliopsis,
Skeletal framework in me
Veins running my blood of life
Defender and fender of my strife
My calliopsis,
Aphrodite’s touch in me
Bringer of light to my night
Distinctive clearness in my sight
If only I could live this world
A thousand times
A thousand times
And another thousand times,
Still you will be my calliopsis,
My calico,
My callaloo,
And my calla lily.
Bolaji Ramos
Categories:
callaloo, beauty, boyfriend, crush, cute
Form: Ode
We were supposed to be discovered
By Columbus in Fourteen-ninety-eight,
But we had the Arawaks and Caribs
Already there, so Columbus was late.
We are a Cosmopolitan Nation
Of every color, creed, and race,
Call ourselves a Callaloo people
With all the mixture in this place.
The Black people or the Africans
Came to the Caribbean as slaves,
The Indians came as Indentured
As Laborers and not as Braves.
We also have a good blend
Of Chinese European, and Japanese,
Most of whom came to do business
Syrians, Koreans, and Lebanese.
But we thank God for our mixture
And now the whole world could see,
That people of many cultures
Can live together in harmony.
Categories:
callaloo, education, history, peoplepeople, people,
Form: Free verse