Poetic Duty I: Coming from Carriacou

By Jeffrey L.B-Izzaak

Occasionally, one gets the opportunity to witness mastery at work, as well as the work of mastery. Such was presented to me by Izzaak in his Poetic Duty I- Coming from Carriacou.
The poems and the writings represent his views and reflections particular of life on the island of Carriacou, rich in tradition and culture.
Each item shows an unparalleled deep insight on matters that others may take lightly. The reader should therefore expect that thought is essential if full and proper absorption of the written word is to be interpreted.
It is not surprising, to me, that the term Kayak is used with pride, even though it was originally meant as in a derogatory sense equivalent to country-bookie for rural Grenadians to express what the city folks thought of Carraicouans.
Indeed, when one first entered the city we did not know how to eat with knife and fork and we spoke funny.
But not only did one overcome this, but presented to the world some most notable individuals.
Read slowly of life in general, of persons who influenced Izzaak, and some of his own experiences.
I thoroughly enjoyed the readings of the anthology and recommend it highly, not only to fellow Carriacouans, but to Grenadians, West Indians and the wider world.

Dr. Alfred Braithwaite, Freeport, Bahamas.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jan 16, 2013
• ISBN: 9781481704663

Jeffrey L.B-Izzaak

It began in his early years -a gregarious young man with an avid interest in nature and his surroundings; a lover of and player with words. IZZAAK, as he often refers to himself, is passionate about island – The Land of Reefs – all 13 square miles of it; passionate about the people and the changing scene of island life. In his time he has produced albums- in word and pictures- documenting the uniqueness of each month. Finally, he has provided the world with a taste of his extraordinary prose, poetry and short stories. Since his being uprooted from his ancestral yard, Izzaak lays claim to living in exile, a few miles away. Meet the man, see the island.

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2013 by Jeffrey L.B-Izzaak. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 01/10/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4817-0468-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-0467-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-0466-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013900242

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Mentions

Acknowledgements

Introduction

VERSE 1

13 Square Miles

My Place

Come

My Place II

13 Square Miles

Kendace

Breteche

Kendace Again

Traversing Tibeau

Beautiful Space

Walking

Ganja Trips

Demolition Man!

Carriacou Coming

Refugee Haven

Used To Be

Demise Of A Village

VERSE II

By The Sea

Onshore

Like A Day Trip

One Evening

By The Sea

Water Baby

Shorelines

Coastwise

Man On The Shore

Water Suspension

Waterfront Memories

VERSE III

Journeys And Encounters

Artist In The Field

Sheila In Verse:

Black Woman—First Contact

Black Woman Ii

Black Woman—In Three

Belair Girl

Burden For Berries

Bj

Cousin Kingston

Travelling To Brooklyn

Journeys Trinidad

Reaching The Other Side

Passersby

I Tell You

Miss America

Pj The Dancer

Glorious Prospects

VERSE IV

Memorials—Before

And After

Deathsong

Cousin Andro

When Jerry Comes

Who Was Michael Degale?

Memorial To The Artist

A Label For Canute

On The Death Of Vina

The Captain

Apology For Lee

Rastaman Next Door

Epitaph For Iboo

Margaret Was

Woman Missing

Roger Off The Dock

Mother’s Child

Tarry

VERSE V

Heartbeats:

To Biabou

For A Love-Child

Your Name

Be With Me

Hello Jenno

To Bli:

East Flow

Making Trips

Love Adoption

Our Decembers

Life On-Course

Sorrows

VERSE VI

400 Years.

Rotation In The Year Of The

Black Man

Black Belly Sheep

Shacks In The Mind

Bhopal 1984

New Orleans

Story Of Jenin—2002

Middle Passage 2010

Returnees In Death Row

Victimized

In Credit

Water-Shed

World By George

Eviction Of The Haitian

Your God And Mine

The Barrier

Aliens

That’s Right

Looking For A Name

J.I In Reverse

Recollection Of I-Nity

Colour Code

Poetic Duty

VERSE VII

A Lighter Side

Crazy Izzaak

Looking For Izzaak

Shirley For Izzaak

Heart To Heart

Give Me!

Claudia’s Wave

Status Same

VERSE VIII

Leaving

Going Home

Last Spot

Poetic Contribution

My Now Goodbye

Man Was

Beatrice

Forces At Play

A Verse To J.I

Return To The Life I Know

Fed Up Of Jeffrey

Ready For The Day

In Fallow

The Abiding Conclusion

MENTIONS

These are two whom I love and remember, and one special person. All played a part in the final product.

Michael Ian DeGale: Poet extraordinaire, playwright, historian and brethren, whose zest for rhythms, words and life was infectious.

Andronicus Gamaliel Jacobs: Intellectual, politician, protester, historian, farmer. Lived to 98, and never lost his insight in, and passion for Carriacou. Remembered through his documents and conversations on the verandah.

M.A: Remember the pieces on the wall at the Customs? For seeing something not readily seen by others and giving it the opportunity to flourish. And for embracing the idea, from the start.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

All the people mentioned in this work are real—some alive, others deceased. They provide the foundation for the written word.

Dr. Alfred Brathwaite and Benny Alexander polished the text with editing, critical observations and suggestions. Their input is much appreciated.

Finally, it’s been many years since I have been thinking of and encouraged to publish an anthology. Author House made it easy to stop thinking and to do.

Jeffrey Izzaak, September 2012

INTRODUCTION

Occasionally, one gets the opportunity to witness mastery at work, as well as the work of mastery. Such was presented to me by Izzaak in his Poetic Duty I—Coming from Carriacou.

The poems and the writings represent his views and reflections particular of life on the island of Carriacou, rich in tradition and culture.

Each item shows an unparalleled deep insight on matters that others may take lightly. The reader should therefore expect that thought is essential if full and proper absorption of the written word is to be interpreted.

It is not surprising, to me, that the term Kayak is used with pride, even though it was originally meant as in a derogatory sense—equivalent to ‘country-bookie’ for rural Grenadians—to express what the city folks thought of Carraicouans.

Indeed, when one first entered the city we did not know how to eat with knife and fork and we spoke funny.

But not only did one overcome this, but presented to the world some most notable individuals.

Read slowly of life in general, of persons who influenced Izzaak, and some of his own experiences.

I thoroughly enjoyed the readings of the anthology and recommend it highly, not only to fellow Carriacouans, but to Grenadians, West Indians and the wider world.

Dr. Alfred Braithwaite, Freeport, Bahamas.

VERSE 1

13 Square Miles

Carriacou, said to be derived from the

Amerindian word Kayryouacou, meaning

land of reefs, is 13 square miles in area,

and rests in the southern Caribbean on

the border of the Caribbean Sea and

Atlantic Ocean. It is a land unique for

its vibrant retention of African traditions.

Carriacouans are documented to have

been land owners even during the

island’s occupation by Europeans during

slavery. Still, beyond that, some estate

lands were sold before the 1900’s.

In the main, Kayaks began to own land

at the turn of the 20th century [the

process for the settlement of a peasant

proprietary began in 1901] when estates

of absentee proprietors were purchased and subdivided.

The peasantry on mainland Grenada

only realized such much later in the 20th

century. Kayaks had progressed beyond

owning lands to build a reputation for

being thrifty and of nimble mental

academic prowess.

Less than 200 years after emancipation

however, a new cycle has arrived—land

ownership in reverse. Some see it as a

dereliction of duty, others, an irony, and

still others, a sign of the times. Indeed,

there are instances of locals making gifts

of land—and not to their kin or kind!

Truly, some say, ‘times have changed’!

One thing is beyond doubt. Carriacou

remains a beautiful place through its

people, rhythms of life and in its setting.

My Place

A beautiful place to find myself;

I sit under the trees and look at the waves;

No footsteps pollute the sand

Strangers never come to this place.

But I see the day when they will,

Rush to find

Eager to explore the remains

The ugly souls will adulterate the simple beauty

They will grieve the sacred solitude.

Will the nature be simply gone then?

My soul can return in the chaos

To find this lonely wilderness.

Surely they cannot remove the sea!

I will return to discover my place.

Come

I’ve been telling you

About me,

My feelings,

My uncertain feelings,

When I dwell on