GUYANA

Sunshine at Christmas Time

Twenty Poems

By Dmitri Allicock

LIFE IS THE BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT

There is that one and only mortal song

For the sad, weak and even the strong

It is the greatest of the gifts we possess

It is the gift of sweet life that we are bless

This applies to everyone as well as you and I

From the day of our birth to the day we die

A song for happy times, depression or tears

The gift we received of life through the years

Something to know in our struggles of the day

The gift of life, we must always treasure I say

Be thankful each day even if you’re feeling sad

Your best Christmas gift is called life and be glad.

I CAN SEE CHRISTMAS COMING From the old louver panes that I flip

With a gentle twist of my grip

I felt the cool breeze on my face

The echoes of dear home is the place

From the old louver panes, I can see

The sky blue and the waving trees

I can hear the birds singing so sweet

And songs of Christmas in the street.

From the old louver panes, I still see

The lush outside where I wanted to be

The old louver window panes of the past

The memories of a Guyanese Christmas to last.

GREEN IS MY CHRISTMAS COLOR

Green is the season for toucans and thrush

Nurtured by the heavens not in a rush

Green is my Guyana where seeds are sown

My roots, the world that I have known

Trees of fruits, medicines and air so clean

Green like a guava, such beauty to be seen

And when there is only snow and it is cold

I think of the green of Guyana to behold.

MY SUMMER PLACE

When it is cold I think of this place

That puts a smile on my face

A place where it is warm all the time

In that old time place of mine

I think of cassava bread and corio for my lips

And a cup of hot bush tea I can sip

Outside I can hear the birds all around

And the warmth for cold hearts are found.

A BAG OF KOKERITES Kokerites by the bags or by the bunch

Ripe in the sun and sweet to munch

Pop off the cap and then peel the skin

Sink your teeth into the creamy delight within

Kokerite Palms growing wild by the Rivershore

Kokerite, sweet kokerite, you will want some more.

FLOWER OF A CHRISTMAS CACTUS

It is mid-December and a beautiful cool day

Christmas is coming this Christmas cactus say

A flower fell off one on the segmental spray

In the cool of the morning, a brilliant display

The Christmas cactus blooms around the earth

A celebration of peace and his glorious birth

And the colors of Christmas in this sparkling red

I have wonderful nostalgic festivity in my head

The Christmas cactus flower brings such delight

I can see stardust and colorful flickering lights

I see all wonderful things bright and beautiful

The Pepperpot, garlic pork, black cake so tasteful

In this precious flower it is soon to be Christmas time

I can hear songs of Christmas and church bells chime

In a dream the whistle, drums of a masquerade strumming

My Christmas cactus tells me that Christmas is coming.

IT IS COLD OUTSIDE I see the sun glowing above the trees

But old man winter is on the breeze

I see fluffy clouds up in the blue sky

It in December and a coat for this guys

Not one single lizard can be found

None of my usual reptile friends around

It is cold outside and it is so everywhere

But inside a song of Christmas I can hear.

HOW SWEET ARE THE PINEAPPLES Pineapple prickly, pokey and rough

But when fully ripe is great stuff

Pineapples, big, juicy and sweet

Pineapples are a good Christmas Treat

Pineapples prickly, pokey and rough

But when fully ripe I can’t get enough

Ripe pineapples where the blue sakis tweets

And sold by vendors in Georgetown’s Streets.

DECEMBER SKIES

Gorgeous is this day of my December skies

White clouds with azure blue for my eyes

My pawpaw tree is laden, I am down below

A blessed December day as I watch it glow

I think of Christmas gifts and how to be wise

But I am already thankful to have my prize

I’ve to do shopping, wondering what to buy

In my December skies I see a blue jay flying by

I love right it here near the lush of my trees

Feeling the cool of the gentle December breeze

And within the deep of the December skies I see

Dozens of wonderful gifts under my Christmas tree.

HOMEGROWN

Faraway from the city or store

A favorite dish of the Rivershore

Corios and cassava bread is the mood

Both homegrown and lovely foods

After delicious saltfish and fry bake

Corio and cassava bread I will take

Perhaps some bush tea to wash down

When you are away from Georgetown.

ROYALTY WITHOUT A CROWN We have modern appliances all around

Remember humility is royalty without a crown

We can load the washing machine to its fill

And then have precious time to kill

We keep our smart phone by our side

Touch-tone or flip a switch, taking pride

It is our age and the things that we seek

But remember, blessed are the meek

There are things worth much more than gold

In our daily lives as time unfolds

Power without force, wealth without display

It is our honesty, integrity, our virtues along the way.

MY CROTONS GLOW Outside of my dwelling is a dear land

Of warm sunshine and tended by hands

Of the plants and the fruits, that I desire

And sweet flowers that lights my fire

A realm of peace and majestic butterflies

And the blessings of life that meets my eyes

A wish that I planted and watched it grow

In the light of day where my crotons glow.

SOUNDS OF THE SEASIDE Each night just before I close my eyes,

I think of a place where the seagull flies.

Each night I always come back for more,

To listen to the ocean waves splashing the shore.

Each night just before I lay down,

I wish to feel the breeze all around.

Each night by Oceanside I want to be,

Feeling the peace of all things wild and free.

Each night just before I sleep,

I can see the blue Ocean so deep.

Each night I pray for peace and rest,

As I drift away on those rolling waves I like best.

APPROACHING THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

There are memories that always stay

I remember them each and every day

Some lives deep in that far away land

I can almost touch them with my hand

There are others I can never understand

Some of the very best but were unplanned

Both of happiness and sad, yet worthwhile

Those moments of gold that made me smile

But I must always, remember to remember

My blessings of this morning in December.

CHILDREN OF ITUNI

I hear this day the songs of a bird

But not one sweeter than the child has heard

A world of beauty and happiness abounds

All is pure with joyful sounds

I saw this day flowers growing thick

But not one like the child pick

And there a lovely butterfly saw I

Yet not like the one the child saw fly

I looked for answers into sky above

But the child look into my eyes for a twinkle of love

Then one day that smile of innocence is gone

To live in our heart where it should always belong.

CARE IS THE WORD

Plant a seed of care

And it doesn’t matter where

Your seedling will be always green

Like this dear schoolboy in Georgetown’s gleam

When temptation comes, care will steer you clear

A wonderful child fixing his schoolmate’s hair

A heart of care is a place of honor, comfort and love

The giver and the receiver bonded under the sky above.

THE SUNNY SIDE OF LIFE

[Rockstone- Essequibo Guyana]

The new day and time will unfold

It is the sunny side of life to behold

There is always strife across the land

It is the sunny side of life, I understand

Here, I reap the blessings of seeds sown

I will be found firmly in the sunny zone

On the dark side there is trouble and pain

On the sunny side there is comfort and gain

Beneath the sky of blue, the sun shines bright

Like in the shade of these bamboo's filtered light

I can sit, have a conversation and never be alone

And enjoy the best moments of life I have known.

EARLY RISER

Bless the man who invented sleep said the owl

Early to bed, early to rise but I am no fowl

The fowlcock looked at him, flapped his wings

Strutting around and got ready to do his thing

He then stretched and puffed out his chest

Jumped on the fence post and gave his very best.

ONE MOMENT IN TIME

[Dedicated to my wife, Evadney and her dear mother

Daphne Reece, seen cooking in this image]

It’s the moments that take our breaths away

The split second that will always stay

And it does not matter how many years

Moments that sometimes bring tears

Like one moment captured in this photo

And is all that is left for you to know

A photograph that will make think

A precious one moment gone in a blink

One moment that can never be relived

A mother’s love and all she could give

One moment, I am thankful that I had

Even though they make me glad and sad

Moments that will come and will go

But in my heart will always glow

For these were indeed a special time

And this one moment that is forever mine.

OVER YONDER

[Bartica- Essequibo]

Over yonder, a brand new year

A time for renewal drawing near

Over yonder, it is the gift of time

A chance for new horizons in mind

Over yonder, a chance to grow, to live

A 2018 to appreciate and a time to give

Over yonder are our dreams, our goals

A chance to bond with kindhearted souls

Over yonder, the horizon it seems gray

We will be one year older and wiser I say

Over yonder we’ll reflect on our time known

A new day, a new year, we can call our own

Over yonder, a time to learn in our world

A blessed path for you to choose in your swirl

Over yonder, a new beginning for us to smile

For us to care, to share and to make worthwhile.

A Merry Christmas and a Happy 2018 to you

From my wife Evadney and I.