Scaling New Heights

FOREWORD

To begin with, I am thankful to the founder and past President from 2005 to 2017, Janet Naidu, poet and writer, for her dedication to the arts, in creating a space for poets and writers to come together; for her more than three decades as a community leader and in fostering diversity and inclusion. The Pakaraima Writers Association has fostered many literary luncheon celebrations, where poetry, stories and authors’ published works have served the community in Toronto through readings.

Serving as President from 2018, as a poet and writer and community leader, I take great pleasure in continuing this important space in our community, where many of our writers have been inspired to write and to be published, as well as to be supported and share their works at our events. 

Ever since the pandemic, Pakaraima Writers Association has convened poetry medleys online and has successfully brought together poets and writers of Guyanese and Caribbean backgrounds in the diaspora, including Canada, Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad and the USA. to share their many writings, be they expressions of love, fear, unity, cultural heritage, social consciousness, isolation and inspiration.

I extend appreciation to Mr. Ken Puddicombe, an established writer and publisher of MiddleRoad Publishers, and a member of the Pakaraima Writers Association, who made a refreshing suggestion for Pakaraima to consider the creation of this Anthology, immediately following our recent readings on a virtual platform. After many years of in-person readings and since the virtual readings, this was an innovative and welcomed idea for the poets and writers to submit their works—poetry and short stories.

Deepest thanks to all of the contributors to this Pakaraima Anthology.

Habeeb Alli

President, Pakaraima Writers and Artists Association

HERITAGE

1. I ONCE MET A GIRL

by Habeeb ALLI

I once met a girl

Standing on the moon

The stars bowed to her

It was a meeting beyond the blue

She laughed giddily at my jokes.

Born in Canje she made sure

she carried her mother's culture

Inside her heart like a red dress

on a summer’s day!

This is far from the truth and reality

of her trueness of who she really

is beyond the pages of academia.

But her warmth will make Kaieteur

look like a teapot on the fire.

The generosity, love and care will melt

a hard-heart coolie

worse than green heart

Luck is the fortune of the unprepared

On the hilltops of Niagara

Cascades my dreams

Into her starry eyes

like Purple Rain all again!

Will the Sheherazade of

Pakaraima rise again?

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2. GUYTRACKS BROOKLYN (FOR CYRIL AND CECIL)

by Jerome BRANCHE

the romans knew

and nodded

was earth was come

for earth

they’d heard it in the trees

like wind wresting

leaves

some brown some green

some in between

some sudden

all fallen

earth seeking earth

wasn’t kite season

the scratching at the sky

of spirits triumphant

wings wide let’s fly

wasn’t Christmas chorus

Christ came for us

rumcake and raisins

like child eyes blazin’

wasn’t August Monday

run around funday

was wake house and wailing

was stout hearts failing

coffee biscuits and black shirts

a stifling of mirth

was quickening earth

the romans felt it.

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3. MY LIFE

by Alicia DANIELS

(A Personal Reflection)

My life is a journey that has not yet

ended,

A picture not yet fully developed.

From the day I was born,

I was destined to be a wonder to many.

I have seen many good starts and many

failed efforts,

But I have also seen many greater,

determined attempts made.

I have had leaps and bounds, ups and

downs.

My failures, successes, joy and sadness

Are tools of wisdom and strength.

I have not learnt everything nor likely to,

So I’m thankful for a heavenly father,

Who knows the weight I can bear,

Unto Him I can cast all my cares.

Although I may not be an Einstein,

David, Napoleon nor Daniel,

My impact is still as uniquely

earthshaking.

My life is not my own, I’ve come to

realize,

But the One who sits on His throne on

high.

As my life is sustained,

Greater is yet to come.

So don't judge me wrongfully, based on

where you think I'm from,

Conform me not to present trials.

For in a season, you'll see