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There are certain terms, inflections, idioms, colloquialism, slang, buzz words, expressions specific to islands or countries. At this moment I am thinking about the colloquial words that abound in our native island’s speech. Sometimes it maybe difficult to decode and these expressions are literally and hardly ever found in the dictionary. Yet we know our own particular slang patterns very well.
I remember one Christmas Enrique and I went to Montserrat and he ran to me and said that the girl sitting on the stools at the bar is from The Bahamas. I told him no way, I asked why did he think so. He said her accent, what she said. He also noticed the distinct design of her jewelry, which looked to him to be Bahamian bought, particularly the design of her wedding band. At that very minute my brother who came in on a flight with her told Enrique that the girl at the bar was a Bahamian. Yes, Enrique gave me the look; how dare I do not believe that he did not know his own people.
Okay, so I called my Aunt late one night hoping she would be up, she said she just finished washing her dishes and “lock off de light” and why am I calling her this ‘odd hour of night’ I recalled for years I could not stop using the term when I was going to turn off the light.
The other day, my friend was saying to me she will never forget when she visited Cat Island and she asked a lady how may children she had. She said “I been behind that door five times” which means she had five children. I have heard the term “coat suit” which is a sometime used Bahamian expression for a “three piece suit” several times and each time it brings the same chuckle as it did the first time. Often it is used as an outright joke when someone is dressed up as in “Why you so dress up in your coat suit?”
I hope that you can share a light moment with your friends or co-workers the slang terms, colloquialisms even idioms that you may find of interest. Enjoy your day or what is left of it my friends!
Recently I was wondering why after washing my daughter’s hair I never corks screw (Bantu knots or Zulu knots) her hair. For those of you who do not know what it is let me give you some more details. I recall between the years of 5-12 on Saturdays all the women and girls would wash their hair. They would always corkscrew my hair. Once it was dried they would unlock it and it made a lovely soft fluffy afro. It was possible that the corkscrews/bantu knots were used to squeeze the excess water from the hair, making it easier to manage. The afro always seemed to look better on people with courser hair as it could withstand any wind or even rain. By the way “The afro is a classic [hair] style that was popularized in the United States during the 1960′s and ’70′s.”
I went to a Caribbean conference last year and I saw an adult woman who actually wore her hair that way to go to work. My initial reaction was “oh no sister you do not leave the walls of your house with your hair looking like that.” I had a sudden prodigious appetite for gossip. As I was not able to talk to anyone in the conference the more I stared at her, the more I noticed that there was certain chemistry about it; it began to look as if it were a piece of art. Maybe it was the way she carried it off; with such elegance and her self expression. She converted me that afternoon because I left feeling that strength of expression of black hair as there was something earthbound about the corkscrews. The Corkscrews seemed as if it took on its own spirit with a cool vibe. 
Terraced corkscrew sculpt
Staggering thoughts cover her parts
Colonial impressions beat
Drummed European influence
Shackles
-
Focus equals feeling
Roots
The strength of her expression
Captures something from the soul
Earthbound spirits gaze
A serene presence
Poem written by Brenda L. McCartney
Influential
He defines
Consequence of time
Brilliant night ripe with association
He burned with impatience
Palatable words
Depth of details
His body marked time
Languid nonchalant
Poetry full of fervor
Tremors Loss
Luster vim and vigor
In a magnificent swirl
Of West Indian existence he wrote
With candor
Speaks with
Offensive poignant tetchy lexis
Snippets of undisciplined squads of emotions
Astute
A sense of achievement
The breath of a Caribbean icon
-
Poem Written by Brenda L. McCartney
Most of us, no doubt, have a list of at least two persons that we would like to meet; living or dead. A few months ago I had the great fortune of meeting such a person on my list. He appeared visibly frail, a bit foggy, suffering from a hearing impairment, which made him a bit irritable, impatient and ennui. He struggled with a cough as he read an excerpt from “The Schooner Flight.” He spoke with such candor; some may say he emerged as a man of ruthlessly honest disposition. But no one could have taken away the fact that he is a first-class writer/poet. His comportment in no way had diminished my experience and respect for him. For me it was reminder that we are all mortal and perseverance pays off, do what you love and you will reap the rewards! From the audience it was evident that his books have inspired a panoply of responses from the readers; professors, students and the public alike. In the question and answer sessions,the audience enjoyed quoting him; but their interpretations for the most part did not mirror his thoughts. To make the ‘long story short’ poetry is open to the reader’s interpretation.
For us Caribbean people Derek Walcott symbolizes the power of words as he was our first Caribbean Nobel Laureate. He just celebrated his 80th birthday in January. I am proud to stand on his shoulders.
Today mothers in Gibraltar, Nigeria, Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom celebrate mother’s day. At the same time, the Anglican Province of the West Indies observes today as Mothering Sunday. The origin of Mothering Sunday dates back to the 16th century; on the fourth Sunday of Lent children would attend church with their mothers. A special day was created for women who were live-in servants to affluent families. On Mothering Sunday these women were allowed to go home from their jobs as servants or maids. In many homes, the housekeeper or cook would help the maids prepare cakes and bouquets of flowers from the garden to be presented to their mother upon their return. I believe that all mothers everywhere deserve to be honoured and not just today. Thank you all of the women who have mentored and influenced us in such special ways.
Incisive decisions beat
Eyes smile to the gentle rhythm
Tulip bosom expressive all season
Seraphic energy molds
those who spring from
and around you
Feathers of nurture
Spirit laps no cost
As your crescent shape cradles
We honor
-
Poem by Brenda L. McCartney
We in the Caribbean no doubt have experienced a profound and deep sense of loss over the passing of a quintessential Caribbean man. He wore many hats; professor, writer, dancer, choreographer, manager, orator, critic, and mentor.
Rex Nettleford was a Jamaican by birth but “the entire world has lost an intellectual and creative genius, a man whose contribution to shaping and projecting the cultural landscape of the entire Caribbean region is unquestionable.”
We truly appreciate his life as we lay him to rest in peace.
During the collection of the offering on Sunday my daughter eagerly waited for the collection plate to drop her dollar in. It brings to life the days gone by as a child when I sat in the pew with my dollar. If the children around forgot to bring their offerings or did not have the means to do so some elderly lady would firmly and quickly put a dollar in your hand; as if to say you shouldn’t have forgotten it and don’t forget it again.
Today I reflect on my development and about how various places of worship and times of worship have molded me into who I am today. For that I give God thanks and praise. Sometimes I just sit and reflect on those special moments. Let us give thanks for those who journeyed before and who’s shoulders we now stand on.
-
Painting by sgeier.net
Illusions
Emotions sit on stilts
Rethinking
In the cycle of illusion
Emotions swelled
Nestled among conduits of deception
The natural order
Vanished in the house of blues
-
Poem by Brenda L McCartney
Image by Imagemore Co., Ltd.
The Moment
I
A purple flower
Left by her lover
Delivered in response to her letter
A few days earlier
II
The lone figure
Lay poised and beautifully adorned
Along the peaceful meadow
His return seems like forever
But he was waiting for dawn
-
Poem by Brenda L. McCartney
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