Say Mongooses Please

The call in program had an unusual twist. It seems the professor that host the program read an email and scuffed the word “mongooses” determining it to be wrong. Today the hosts took him to task and some callers too. I earned from early school days that this was the correct plural for Mongoose.

 

Say Mongooses Please   Stetson was right the etymology Assures us it’s neither man nor goose in genecology You can’t conjugate like a comedienne   Mon in mongoose can’t turn to men One can see the mongoose has no man None should twist this word for resonance plan Goose may turn the geese in birds that fly One cannot say mongeese and this is why Our cat like creature that scampers around Spends all it’s time firmly on the ground Even though it zooms quickly and may Sometimes disappear like it had flown away   People must stick to the correct conjugation Language has it own accepted permutation Exceptions of plurality do exist   And so deer is deer and sheep, sheep we insist Stetson was right and Marshall, well, cuh dear! Everyone who listened yesterday found it hard to hear

Alphonsus Cassell – The Mighty Arrow

Alphonsus Celestine Edmund Cassell passed away this morning September 15, 2010 in Antigua. His death came as a surprise to many who never knew of his long battle with cancer. There is much solace in knowing that Christian hearts go on to a better place when they depart this life. We pray that during his illustrious life that he came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and accepted Him in his life. 

 

Alphonsus Cassell – The Mighty Arrow   A Mighty Arrow shot through the air Lit a passage everywhere People far and wide all the same Heard the splendor which from this Arrow came Ole ole feeling Hot Hot Hot Nations applauded the music and gave it an esteem spot Selected as theme song for 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico United those who heard it for years where ever you go Soca music was given this icon who on Nov 16, 1954 was born   Christened Alphonsus Celestine Edmund and now we all mourn Arrow thrilled many audiences with his infectious style Soca mixed with Merengue and Rock to ingeniously compile Something new that penetrated the world scene Entertained the globe in ways previously unheard and unseen Lyrical genius and rhythmic blaster Lots of songs produced from this musical master   Take 1973: “Dance with Me, Woman” He did in 1981: “Soca Rumba” surely a unique calypsonian Everyone may not know in 1983:”Rub Up” was done with “Hot Hot Hot”   Most remember 1984: “Long Time” few do not In 1988: “Groove Master” was done Gave the world in 1989: “O ‘La Soca” but most recently none His music has been played over and over repeatedly Tourists identify with his mixes and dance uninhibitedly You too will recognize his music from the very first bar   Arrow’s music digs pleasurably into our persona and tattoos its scar Remorse struck us all when we heard today Region’s Icon for this great music had past away Our Sympathies to the Family and friends of this musical great We all pray the Arrow has shot this time, through Heaven’s gate

September To Remember Music

The morning show was giving all the songs that brought cheerful sunlight and the rays of hope and then a low, the lost of the Arrow. This news was announced and immediately the host shifted to all about this great entertainer. I dance very often to his music, seldom refusing and that the bands played. The Mighty Arrow will be sadly missed but his existing music will live on.

 

September To Remember Music   Shush, they are playing music for us Earlier they had Stevie but I heard from The Age of Aquarius Proper song, one I could never sing Then the host played Let The Sunshine In Every song following had sunshine in their themes More spreading of God’s rays of Golden beams Bright sunlight to spotlight the things we see Each of God’s creations and the starlight spangles through the tree Radio is great it cast memories through sound   The host spins the music and we conjure the rebound Our imagination can take us where ever we need   Reaching our heart strings to with an emotional stampede Emotions of memories when sunshine warmed your face Memories too of sunshine which could displace Every dark cloud that lurked to turn blue skies gray Music spun of Sunshine on my Shoulders and then my day Brightened like nothing can happen once I used my mind Enjoy Seasons in the Sun, the beautiful sunshine Regrets then played that the Arrow had fallen   Many were touched by his music and will be sadden Unable to see the delight of sunshine, remorse only Sadness complemented with tears from the clouds. lightly It is hard when we receive the news but joy will come from sorrow Celebrate this life lived, September we’ll Remember the music of Arrow

The Arrow

The calls were made to the people who will miss the Arrow. I don’t expect to hear a call, I only knew The Mighty Arrow  through his music. His Soca music always brought movement to your waist and a smile on your face. I wish I can share my sentiments with the family and friends and therefore offer my condolences.

 

The Arrow   The news came in that the Arrow fell Had a trajectory that cast an intoxicating spell Everyone in its path was graced with song   Alphonsus gave soca a place to belong Recording the international hit Hot Hot Hot Reaching many countries and languages toughing the spot Our Sympathies to his family, friends and to all who are sadden We’ll miss this great Musician, the Arrow has fallen

September A Time To Remember

It’s been a while since I heard my early Morning Radio show but today I did. The music was all part of a feature from an old saying “September Remember” which I believe to be a throw off from the hurricane season. The songs were generally nostalgic and the thing I remembered while listening is that there is much to remember about September

 

September A Time To Remember   Sunshine though there was rain Embraces that hushed the crying People who constantly try To do their most though only getting by Eyes that focus on peoples best Moving away from things we protest Being content with your plate Excessive was never apart of your fate Right thinking in spite of the wrong   Always building, always ready to be strong   There is much to remember that is good If you would see the things I could Make thoughts of the bad go away Evil doers that will snatch your day   Thieves who kill pointlessly Or those who take your hard earned money   Remember the good amidst the bad Efforts by all to improve shortcomings we had More responsible thinking as we ply our trades Every action taken to deter more raids My September may have started bad but I see Brightness and real possibility Empathy came but I am resolved to recover Remembering there’s lots of good in September

Mosquito One Mosquito Two pt. 2

I tried but I can’t bring humor to the seriousness of the diseases spread by mosquitoes and the many people who die daily all over the world because we still haven’t controlled mosquitoes yet. On its own, a mosquito is harmless but once it is carrying a virus it can spread them rapidly making a mosquito bite considerable more deadly than the bite from bears and lion in terms of deaths caused

  

Mosquito One Mosquito Two pt. 2   Malaria, West Nile and Dengue too Outbreaks still eluding us whatever we do So many die yearly and what difference can we make Quit giving them home and refuge to start an outbreak Use repellents and keep stagnant water from collecting where you live Inspect your environs regularly to ensure  you don’t give These flying insects the slightest chance Of infecting any and epidemics enhance   Once upon a time we played a jump rope game Now I beg you not to frivolously give the mosquitoes fame Epidemiologists have worked hard to isolate each disease   Mosquitoes can cause so lets play our part please One person said that when you spot a mosquito Spend time looking home because that’s where their eggs grow Quell your fears that they are coming from elsewhere Under old containers, flower pots even stopper they’re there If we all play our part we might fine The threats of mosquitoes will seriously decline Obliterated even, with a united front   The Government will still continue fogging to do the brunt We together can stop the Aedes aegypti from doing its do Once we work seriously at destroying them, Mosquito One Mosquito Two

My River Water

Help me friend, I have lost touch with my geography.  The radio host liken something to the youthfulness to a river where the strength is in the early stages but after a while it dies down. In fact he said that at the source the river is strongest. I seem to have confusion here since I recall that the river may be comparative calm the closer to the source. 

 

My River Water   My source is a powerful waterfall Yesterday a mere drip but today not at all   Rushing waters beat and dug deep into my bed I find children play in my calm pool like shed Very lower down miles away Every rock or obstruction meet grave dismay Removed by the strength I built up on my way down   Water so rapid no bathers will be found And so please don’t be fooled by my lengthy course The stronger I can get the farther from my source Everyone soon learns from a visit my friend River waters can get very rapid when nearing the end

Adonijah

Today one of the older more established Calypsonian was featured on Fireworks and he reminded us that he was celebrating a birthday today. I have told you before that I enjoy this show and I think I told you why but just incase you are hearing it for the first this show is well hosted by Dennis and he manages to have some very great interviews with Entertainers or people in the entertaining world, which always reveal things about then that we would never had known.

Adonijah A pity they don’t realize Dance music needs story telling, so I advise Our young calypsonians to learn to perfect Not just the “blood sport” but I suspect It’s critical to get back to the heart Jamming destroys the social commentary of the Art A pity, yes a pity we hold so dear to imported music Having such anthems here like Adonijah’s “Woman” defying any critic

Talk More Talk and Ole Talk

The Radio Program Firework started and many of the callers seem to have one general thing on their mind, they were concern about the name of Crop Over being changed. We are gradually eating away at things that are our culture and now I think because we have managed to eat so much from the original festival we are now looking for a new name to call this new animal.

Talk More Talk and Ole Talk The Troubadors International and some old calypsonians too Are responsible for making our music true Lyrical geniuses with a great sense of rhythm Kept people dancing and singing just craving for some Music draws us in and develops its own personalities Our Crop Over festival is one of many of these  Right around the Caribbean carnivals come alive Entertainers like singers and dancers at this time thrive They look forward to costumes worn by their loyal revelers A skimpy piece of decorative clothing which covers Little or nothing made to bring a larger crowd Kaiso is evolving to glitz, brass and drums out loud And we gradually sell our art form bit by bit Now debating on changing the name so it might better fit Desires of few at the expense of many Our Crop Over is dwindling to a festival of nudity Lewd behavior replacing festival traditions Every song offers jump, wave, “juck” and other invitations The crafty mix of double entendre with social commentaries Are lost to the young and uprising celebrities Lost musicality, lyrical mastery and soon our name too Kaiso we thing, Crop Over more than a carnival, Bajans wah we gine do?

Crowknee Says It’s Freedom

Director – who was famous for Sousy recently penned and recorded two songs. Director visited the studio at Fireworks and had an interesting interview about his music and performed the two songs. I have used the titles here to craft this Acrostic Poem

Crowknee Says It’s Freedom Communities all got one Risk leaving your stuff and it will soon be gone On a cold dark night when all was at sleep With a crocus bag and a busted old jeep Knife to unhinge his neighbor’s gate None escaped unless they were up late Escaped being robbed of their hard earned stuff Every item was targeted he never had enough Sergeant Cummings of the local constabulary   Arrived in the neighborhood just after 3 You know this man, he asked and I took a look Seen him recently, he asked, you know he’s a crook I was confused and didn’t know what to do That he knew his modus operandi means they have more than a clue So how come they didn’t go straight by his house For what reason were they playing this cat and mouse Right next door to Crowknee was an old lady Everything he did she was sure to see Even when he moved so late at night De old lady knew when he got back from her porch light On questioning the old lady supporting Crowknee wouldn’t succumb   Me I don’t know, everything he got Mr. Crowknee Says It’s Freedom