The Spring Soiree - A Different Kind of Show

Call for Entries: Anthurium of Bahamian Creative Work

From: Obediah Michael Smith
Date: March 18, 2008 1:07:08 AM EDT
Subject: Fwd: Anthurium of Bahamian writers

Fellow Bahamian authors, poets, here's an opportunity not to be
missed. I urge you to embrace it. I urge you to submit as quickly as
you can, so the best of all can be included. I for certain would not
wish to miss this opportunity. Feel free to share this with any other
Bahamian poet, author whom you know and we might not, whose work you
consider is exceptional. I am for seeing that as wide a group of us
are represented, especially Bahamian writers, poets whose abilities we
might not as yet be aware of. I wish you all the best. How much nearer
have we come to developing a national literature, one the whole wide
world shall have to pause and take note of? This I expect will be
indicated by this edition of Anthurium, so generously offered to our
community of Bahamian poets and authors. It's time to polish and
submit. It's time to shine.

Obediah.

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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

"ANTHURIUM"

SPECIAL ISSUE

dedicated to

BAHAMIAN LITERATURE, THEATER,

FILM, ART, and CULTURE

Anthurium : A Caribbean Studies Journal “is a bi-annual peer-reviewed journal that publishes original works and critical studies of Caribbean literature, theater, film, art, and culture by writers and scholars worldwide exclusively in electronic form. The journal promotes a lively exchange among writers and scholars in the arts, humanities, and social sciences who hold diverse perspectives on Caribbean literature and culture and offers a mixture of critical essays, cultural studies, interviews, fiction, poetry, plays and visual art. Book reviews and bibliographies, special thematic issues and original art and photography are some of the features of this international journal of Caribbean arts and letters. Anthurium is a non-profit publication and project of the Caribbean Literary Studies program in the Department of English, supported solely by the University of Miami:
http://scholar.library.miami.edu/anthurium/currentcallforpapers.htm

The School of English Studies at The College of The Bahamas invites submissions for the Spring 2009 edition of the journal. Submissions must be received no later than 30 May 2008 and should be submitted electronically as Microsoft Word attachments to english@cob.edu.bs . They should also be accompanied by a brief biographical sketch.

Submission guidelines:

Critical Essays

No more than one essay, 3,500-6,500 words. Prepare manuscripts in accordance with the most recent edition of The MLA Style Manual, which encourages the use of intratextual documentation wherever possible and mandates the inclusion of a list of works cited (with full pagination) at the manuscript’s end.

Poems:

No more than four poems.

Fiction and Life Writing:

No more than one story, a maximum of 5,000 words.

Book/Film/Play reviews (or short review essays):

2,000-2,500 words. At the beginning of the review, please include the title of the work being reviewed as well as the publication/production information. Books should have been published no more than two years previously.

Art

No more than two pieces (on CD).

See additional information on submission guidelines at
http://scholar.library.miami.edu/anthurium/submissionguidelines.htm

Please note the Statement of Publication Terms which applies to all Anthurium publications.
___________________________________________

Should you have any queries, please contact:

Dr. Marjorie Brooks-Jones
Chair
School of English Studies
The College of The Bahamas
Tel.: (242) 302-4385
Email: mjones@cob.edu.bs

or

Dr. Ian Strachan
Assistant Professor
School of English Studies
The College of The Bahamas
Tel.: (242) 302-4381
Email: istrachan@cob.edu.bs

NAGB Poets & Writers: Susan Wallace - Tue. Feb. 26

Courtesy of SMITH + BENJAMIN's
Bahamian Art / Culture / Community Mailing Service
"uplifting the creative spirit of our community"

Happy Valentine's Day from Native Stew

Love's Medley

By Kadria R. Sears


Tossed through waves of emotions

Aimlessly landing fusion of doubtful thoughts,

Hoping that soon, somewhere somehow,

That wonderful magic begins.

We often define these times

as wholly sacred.

Times that can never be matched

no matter what happens.

Thus in this medley that so

often parades, brings about

colors, sensations and tremendous escapades.

Oh! how we yearn for those colors to shine,

Warming our hearts and tantalizing our minds.

But love so divine, has its moments

as everything else we have.

Capturing each illusion, each imagination thereof.

Valentine's Day

By Elizabeth Munnings

It's Valentine's Day again.

Colors of red and white are seen everywhere.

Laughter and smiles are visible,

At this very special time of the year.

The flowers, fruits, chocolates, teddy bears and other treats

Can be seen in delectable baskets by vendors on the streets.

Cards with "I love you", are also placed in the baskets,

For that special someone.

A child, children, adults, parents, and others,

All share in this wonderful day.

As they encourage each other every step of the way.

Valentine's Day comes around once a year.

Keep that special loved one close in prayer.

Love is patient, and is kind.

Show and share this love each day of the year!

Poetry Corner

Music With Spirit
By Kadria Sears

I hear a sound a sound O so well
Of happiness, joy and heartfelt stories to tell
A sound that warms the ear of
its most inner part
A sound that reflects exactly who we are.

A sound we hear of tranquility,
A sound that send out true serenity.
Distinct in its own way
some tend to reject,
The sound many want to perfect.

A spirit that pertrudes
all thoughts and emotions
A sound that shouts out for each celebration.
Deny it, some may, forget it at all,
Some day, maybe some day

It would beckon a call.

This New Year
By Ellizabeth Munnings

This new year we have another chance
To be productive and make new plans.

Don't look for someone else to do,
The things that you were born to do.

Don't throw your life away with dope, drink, and being the "baby daddy".
Don't sell yourself short ladies with every man in town.

Children are special and
deserve love and care.
They also need their parents to be there.

Some young men are robbing left and right.
Some are constantly looking for a fight.
They use guns, knives, seldom fists.
They are out to kill.

Bodies are dropping each day.
We have one life to live,
Make it a new adventure.
Do the right things each day.

You will have good memories before your sun sets!

Vain Attempts
By Zemi Holland

Busy whirlwinds cloud the mind causing:

Bewilderment.

Temporary insanity.

Confussion.

Time spills away.

Hear it as it leaks from your veins.

It cannot be stopped.

Its speed cannot be altered.

Why try?

Poets & Writers: Marina Gottlieb Sarles - Tue. Sep. 25th

NAGB Events: September 2007

Express Yourself

Obediah Smith - Poet

By Nadine Thomas-Brown, Guardian Staff Reporter

When you come to express yourself at EXPRESS YOURSELF, the Bahamas' only free venue for self expression, bring an open mind and your love of all art forms..

Take Wednesday night for instance when the midsized crowd were roped in as Jonathan Murray a graphic artist by trade, took canvas and covered the stage then using the poets as muses began an abstract painting which will no doubt be completed in consecutive shows.

The usual crowd showed up as well as a couple newbies. They all gave 'mad props' to Obadiah Michael Smith a poet who is largely ignored here in his own country. A Shame because he is a published poet whose intellect is second to none as it relates to the arts in his country. Smith who formerly did a speakeasy from the Living Room fondly called "Verse Place" has inspired many poets young and old and has a blog online.

Absent this week was Dawn Hanna whose performance last week was open to interpretation. She was missed. Hanna is the daughter of the governor general and a great lover of the arts.

Ayla Roberts daughter of Bahamian painter Antonius Roberts, was on fire last night. Her poems left the audience asking for more and more she delivered along with EY regular Chet.

The quality of performers at EY has improved noticibly and poets have gotten into the habit of responding to each other's poems, a situation which brings about lots of laughter.

The show which is held every Wednesday at 8 pm in the Island Club is frequented by people from every strata of society. The EY family extends an invitation to every performer on the island to come out and share your original work with us in a club that embraces the work of Bahamians.

James Catalyn

James Julius Catalyn, Bahamian Playwright,
Author, Poet, Satirist, Dialectologist, Lecturer, Actor, Comedian, Producer, Director, Adjudicator, Compere, Town Crier and Lyricist.

James was born 6th January,1940 on East Shirley Street, opposite Ebeneezer Methodist Church,The Pond Area,
St. Matthew's Parish, Nassau Bahamas.

He is the fourth of four children born to Theresa Elizabeth Major, formerly of Roses, Long Island.

He is always very busy organising projects and major productions all over the Bahamas.

I AM A BAHAMIAN

I am a Bahamian!
My colour does not matter to me
It should not matter to you
I make no apology.
I am proud of my colour
I am proud of the way I look
I am proud of me.

I am Bahamian

It is of no concern to me
That my father was born in another land
I was born Bahamian
I need not look elsewhere
For my heritage
No one is looking to me for theirs
No one is climing me as "Brother Man"
Unless for dubbious reasons.

I claim no one
But my Bahamian brothers
I know of no other roots
But my Bahamian roots
And I am proud.

I do not wish to run
From my country
To identify with another culture
Nor let others force
Their beliefs on me.

I am not African
I am not European
I am not black
I am not white
I am me! I am Bahamian!

I was born Bahamian
I have a right to be Bahamian
And I will die for the right
To remain, Bahamian!

james j. catalyn (C) 26/3/92

Visit James Catalyn's WebSite

NAGB Events: August 2007

I Doon Like Rum

Here's something I wrote a while back.

I Doon Like Rum
Rake & Scrape song
By Derek Catalano
a.k.a. Derek In Da yard


(chorus)
I doon like rum, but rum like me,
It stick on me like a dog wit’ a flea
Listen to me people, now can’tchu see
I doon like rum, but boy rum like me

When I can’ sleep, I take two shot or t’ree
I drink it erry mornin’ for my cup a tea
I use to work so hard, makin’ plenty money
Na I can’ keep a job because, rum like me

I hang out by da bar, scrappin’ all day long
Hustlin' rum money, for a drink real strong
When people look at me, dey doon like
what dey see
I say I look like dis because, rum like me

I see my bar room friend, wit a bottle a rum
He walk right up to me, an’ say if I wan’ some
I cross my heart and tell him very honestly
I don’t like rum, but boy rum like me .

Walkin’ dan da road, ya know I doon live far
Try ta cross da street, an’ mos’ get lick wit’ car
Da driver put on brakes, an’ man I had ta flee
He say I doon like my life, but boy rum like me

I back home naa, an’ I take a seat
I look at da grits, but I een wan’ eat
I wish I had a woman, who I could marry
But I can’ like no woman, only rum like me

I try ta sleep now, but it so scary
I seeing little creatures, ‘cause I gat DT's
Thru da winda booga-man, under ‘neat’ one tree
Dis is how I live because, rum like me

Again dis mornin’, I say Lord no more
Den I drink my rum tea, an’ I hit da door
No care in da worl’, no responsibility
But I een really free, because rum like me

Rum is very dangerous, in are country
We need ta ban da rum, it killin’ all a we
But da leaders and da people, jess can’ agree
‘Cause rum like dem, jess how rum like me

Lyrics, music & art by
derek catalano (c)2005.

Listen to the music

Annuder Haracane Comin'!

Here's a poem I wrote about the experiences of a Bahamian family in a hurricane. The father tells the tale.

It is written in Bahamianese which is a form of broken english or dialect that is commonly spoken here in The Bahamas, even though we are masters of 'the Queen's english'. :)

Annuder Haracane Comin'!

Anudder haracane comin
I can't take no more
Gatta battin-up ma windas agin
An' lock-down tight ma door
In dese crazy lass days
haracanes comin by da score

Dis' one comin' fass an’ true
No matter what I wish
Back agin to da corner shop
For water an' tuna-fish

I need more good plywood
For dis angry devil in da sky,
But dat greedy man daan dere
Done raise da price sky high

Need ta full ma car tank
Wit gas what scarce an’ so dear
Don't know what for anyhow
Cause I een drivin' no where
An da gas line so long
I feel I could hardly bear

Back home we finish battin-up quick
I hungry an' iss eatin’ time
Wife say "Haa yall 'spek ta eat tuna-fish
If yall een bring no lime!"
I say "Dese haracanes get me all mix-up
Cause I feel like I gern out my mine!"

We all done lock-down naa
In my house-prison safe an' tight
Dis one gon hit us like a boom
In da middle a da night

It reach! It reach!
It ‘pon top a us right now
Light off, water off
Who need dem anyhow
An' yinna chirren shut up
Dis een no time ta row

I peep tru one lil hole
An' see da rain an' mighty breeze
People even walkin' in da streets
Dey fool naa, mudda freeze!

Coconut tree dem ben' right down
Lord only you could help us, please
Ma crops done gone, so much I loose
Banana, corn an' peas

Water risin', shingle flyin'
Hope we make it till mornin'
Lord what kinda lan' dis is
I gone an’ get born in?

Naa dis a real haracane
Hope ma house could stand da proof
"Stop up dat water wit some towel
'Fore we hafta go in da roof!"

Lord please save us
Water comin’ in everywhere
Chirren, wife, grammy and da dog
All stanin’ up on chair

Erryting quiet naa
I gone outside ta spy
What dat man on da radio jess say?
Oh Jesus! Dis only da eye

I haul-hip back inside
For more safety an' protection
Naa da breeze blowin' twice as hard
An' comin' from da nex' direction

Lord dis me agin
I gern ta see Pastor Lundy,
‘Cause Lord if you get us tru dis
I gon be in church erry Sundy

Vell da sun up an' it over now
Look like we bin' tru war
Hear me now Fadda Jesus
Doon sen’ no haracane no more.

Cutlass chappin’, chainsaw buzzin’
A familiar soun’ in da air,
Time for us to go an’ pick up
Half-ripe hog plum an’ pear.

Tings gettin' back in order
It gon be a good day
Whatchu say Mr. Wedderman?
Anudder one on da way?

Vell I gat plenty experience naa
Cause dese haracanes doon play,
An' tanks for hearin' my prayers Lord
An' sparin' us anudder day.

derek catalano (c)2004.

Deep Waters Poetry

Deep Waters is a website envisioned by Sean Munnings to promote his hobbies, Bahamian aspirations and cultural ideals to the entire Caribbean and the world. Mr. Munnings is a poet, actor, deejay, and entertainment host.

Visit Deep Waters WebSite