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

well

choices made... worry not
taps remain dry and dey rejoice
no beds in de hospital
dey rejoice

crime rampant
dey rejoice

dem made a choice albeit not a popular one

orange revolution-Trinidad & Tobago voting

sober with silence
orderly out their homes
seasoned an' virgin devotees
cherishing right to
cast hopes
an' dreams in a booth
evidenced by a stained index finger

were the pollsters correct?
did the marginals suffice?
would the masses be set free?

shall our voices be raised victorious in the streets?

tis' revolution of colour promised

roi kwabena