for the Ancestor Clive Bradley's earthday

The New York Times acknowledged that "Mr. Bradley was one of the most skillful and admired practitioners of a longstanding Carnival tradition".


Clive Bradley

Veteran Steelband Arranger

1936-2005

ogun lives on (for clive bradley)

was up spring flow road

we met and it was raining

sxango was peeling. So

we sheltered under a mango tree

discussing heritage issues

both adamant of the need

to protect the arts for prosperity

he agreed with a sparkle in his eyes

reminding me of struggle for pan

plus where it was today

i countered i was a writer

and he smiled at me suggesting

that one day too i would stand sheltering

from yemanja here

to yet tell a youth

just as he was doing same

i queried whether he understood

power of Orishas

protecting our PAN

he accepted ...

so today i shout:

Ogun lives on...

as i pour libations for this the general...

whose music

and company i am proud

to announce i had

pleasure to enjoy

ashe

RK

poem published as tribute
on panonthenet