Evolution: Weaving in and out of Consciousness while the Truth is Somewhere in the Middle

By Felene M. Cayetano

This collection of poetry allows readers into the developing years of the author--a transplanted Belizean Garifuna woman--experiencing life in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Baltimore, Belize and Honduras from the age of 15 to the age of 25.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Felene M. Cayetano
• Release date: Sep 30, 2013
• ISBN: 9780975382011

Felene M. Cayetano

Felene M. Cayetano was born in the Central American country of Belize and migrated to Los Angeles, California at the tender age of 9. This migration experience at such a young age shaped her outlook about people, permanence and the definition of home. While seeking answers she was certain only that she loved to write poetry, read non-fiction or realistic fiction and became alive sharing those joys with others. These certainties led to self-publishing a poetry collection in 2004 and many years of schooling before returning to her birthplace and commencing a career as a librarian.

Book preview

Evolution: Weaving in and out

of Consciousness while the Truth is

Somewhere in the Middle

by

FELENE M. CAYETANO

with a foreword by

Anthony Baldwin Lewis

For Merline and Richard Cayetano

thanks for the foundation that

builds castles beyond the sky

© 2013 by Felene M. Cayetano (http://www.felene.com)

Cover Design and author photo: Dirk Joseph (http://www.ravenseal.com)

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or otherwise, without the permission in writing from the Publisher.

Felene M. Cayetano

[e-mail]

Belize, Central America

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Other publications by Felene M. Cayetano

Evolution: Weaving in and out of Consciousness While the Truth is Somewhere in the Middle (paperback)

Belizean Nail Soup: A Collection of Short Stories (e-book only)

Crossing Bridges (e-book only)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Preface

Foreword

The Teens

Post Teens

Adulthood

Haikus

Personal Essay

Bio

Acknowledgements

The Creator – who breathed life into my

Ancestors – who struggled to hold their independence, and secure a future for my

Parents – who through love brought me into this world to observe and record what

I have seen using the rhythm of my

Grandparents – who spoke to me in

Garifuna – the culture and language of my People – who will one day collectively regain the

consciousness needed to fulfill the hopes of our

Ancestors.

Felene M. Cayetano

Preface

This book is a poetic autobiography from high school to the present. Each poem is the product of a thought, feeling or experience that I could only understand after I wrote it. As I included and excluded certain poems I chose the ones that I felt best represented me at those times in my life. Rereading some of my older poems, I puzzled myself wondering how I could have thought a certain way – hence the title of this collection. These poems show my walk into consciousness as a female, a Garifuna, and a Caribbean immigrant in America. There were a few I would have liked to bury, but I invoked the spirit of Simone de Beauvoir to remind myself that one is not born a woman, one becomes one.

In essence, logic beat ego to illustrate my EVOLUTION.

Foreword

Griots are speakers of the worlds yet to be uncovered, chosen by ancient spirits to gather wandering Kafirs, and teach them how to be–everything! Their styles may vary, but they are all visionaries. This describes the works of Felene Cayetano. Her writings are like deities kneading souls from the earth, and salvaging traditions.

Metaphorically blanketed, her style is personal, poignant and purposeful. While reading Evolution, you can hear the slow rumbling of drums and make a correlation between Felene and another griot, Audre Lorde. Like Lorde, Felene documents her multiple struggles, and still touches upon universal truths.

One piece in particular titled, I hugged a bum, demonstrates how we have become asphyxiated by the delusions of life. A line in the poem reads, He was young, he was an artist, but unlike me he had courage and he was free. This poem