GUYANA: Wha Mo Yo Want?!! – By Eric Matthews
Just sun, an’ more sun, an’ rain, an’ more rain,
An’ mud an’ slush, an’ sandy beaches, an’ northeast trades,
An’ a hundred waterfalls, an’ rapids, an’ rivers, an’ creeks,
Black, fresh, muddy, slow, swift- flowing,
All heading fo’ de Atlantic.
Cool mountains, dark starry night skies, an’ wide open savannahs,
Rich earth, virgin, pristine forests.
Wha’ mo’yo’ want? Everytingyo’ want deh hay!
Tek timefo’ know dis land, dis place! Listen to it!
Spen’ some nights up in de Pakaraimas, out in de Rupununi!
Listen todem waterfall, feel de spray ponyo’ face,
Near midnight, listen to all dem jungle sounds —–
Screeching, howling, hooting, wind blowing in de trees,
An’ rushingtru de bush, an’ de plop! plop!splash of seeds
An’ fruit, an’ dry branches falling in de wata!
Listen, an’ feel de sweetness of names like——
Kwakwani, an’Saxacali. Hosororo, an’ Potaro.
Akarai, an’Imbaimadai. Madewini, an’Hubudi.
Kuru Kuru, an’ Kuru Kururu. Leguan, an’Sparendaam.
Tumatumari, an’Itanami. Qebinang, an’Kamarang.
Mabaruma, an’Karaudanawa. Goorahoo, an’ Big Biaboo.
Ituni, an’ San Souci. Orealla, an’Bonasika!
Whamo’yo’ want?! All datyo’ need deh hay!
Cross deDemerara fromTimehri. Yo’ wan’ talk ‘bout food?
Dis valley alone could feed all ahwee!
Criss- cross de’ country. Go west, cross de Essequebo,
Den south. Go east, cross de Berbice, den south.
Wha’ mo’yo” want?! Everytingdeh hay!!
Dem ole peoplewuklang an’ hard! Dey sacrifice an’ deysuffah!
Dey blood shed hay! Cane cutter, shovel man, boatman, pork knocker,
Pan boiler, small farmer, rice farmer, cattle rancher, shopkeeper,
Fisherman, timberman. All ahdem spirit deh hay!
Claim what belong to you! Is YOUnable string bury hay!
Doan give away dis place!
Doan leh anybody fool yo’ wid sweet talk an’ promises!
T’ ink beforeyo’ sign anyt’ing! Tek pride in yo’self!
Embrace yo’self! Embrace yo’ children! Embrace de future!
Is timefo’ mek it really happen!
Everytingyo’ need deh right hay! Wha’ mo’yo’ want?!
Comments
An honest, caring, people oriented as opposed to being self centered would be a good starting point.