Advent Rituals

The thought of your birthday stirs me -  awake

“Without apprehension or apology”

I write in the Advent of Rituals

In harmony, comfort, genuine delight

Celebrate your halting of time

In your sacred season

-

Written by Brenda L. McCartney

Portrait of a Woman

She stepped lightly across…

To the rhythm of her soul

In flowing prints of Amahni

Lightly scented Anais infused

In jeweled hues  she lifts

A  new sense of possibility

Her touch is redefining

Beautiful is how she lives

-

Poem Written by Brenda L. McCartney

This poem is dedicated to my friend Andrea as she celebrates the anniversary of her birth.

Remembering Mama

I grew up with my maternal grandparents. Life with my grandparents has taught me so many things. It has taught me the love of family, the importance of embracing others and most of all taking a stand for something I believe in. My grandparents were always there to encourage me by doing things such as showing up to my parent teachers meeting and selecting the company I kept.

“Grandparents are our continuing tie to the near-past, to the events and beliefs and experiences that so strongly affect our lives and the world around us.’ Today I make special mention of the lady that has mentored me on what would have been her eighty seventh birthday. To paraphrase the words Corinthians thanks be to God for the indescribable gift of a grandmother. Below is poem taken from my book LeAp dedicated to my mama.

Seven Stanzas from Mama

I

Bayside born

With seaside spray

Fishing, sewing

Playing every day in the sand

School days left happily

Married life brought foreign land

(Nevis then off to mother land)

Married life brought foreign land

All of which brought shop, bus, business and progeny

II

Smell the oven bread is baking

Sanka Coffee Breakfast making

Mountain calls foul awakes and cock crows

To the market we will go

Loaves for sale, prices low

Cassava , dasheen, pigeon peas, sweet potato make them grow

III

Early rising before dawn

Watch hog, sheep, and goat with horn

To the fields to graze

Off they go

Make sure in by six

Better lock the pen or get some licks

IV

Shop opens and they come

Milk, sausage, eggs sold one by one

Scoop the flour by the pound

Make sure drop none on the ground

Sweet oil, sugar cake, cheese and bread make sure cover

Salt fish, sold with onion if you buy one must buy the other

V

Raising children

Watch them grow, then grandchildren

Off they go

Making proud hearts stand tall

See what God has done for them all

Off they go

Off they go

VI

I will watch on though I go

Friends I will miss you so

Blood carries on with love

Through it all

Through the ashes and the storm

Wishing gladness every morn

Ever bright

Waking, walking singing with delight

VII

My descendents come do not cry

I have risen to the skies

To my Jesus Lord I come

All my work on earth is done

Water reflection

Mountain trees

Calming wind

And blowing breeze

Every time you see or hear

Remember me there.

-

Poem taken from LeAp – A Collection of poems by Brenda L. McCartney

Celebrate

Soar and the world sees you

Sing and men will hear you

Rise and your followers are many

Dream and there will be plenty

-

Poem by Brenda L McCartney