What’s Going On?

THE SOCIETY IS GETTING LOOSE
THERE IS PREVALENCE OF CHILD ABUSE
HUNDRED OF ADDICTS, DRUGS ABUSED
 HUMAN TRAFFICKING FREQUENTLY IN THE NEWS
ADULTS ARE LEWD
 CHILDREN ARE RUDE
EVERYONE IS CRUDE
POLITICIANS ARE SHREWD
WITH EACH OTHER WE FEUD
TOO MUCH NEGATIVE ATTITUDE
SOME OF US RARELY EXPRESS GRATITUDE
NO MORE THANK YOU
WE NO LONGER SAY SORRY OR EXCUSE
TOO  MUCH NEGATIVE IS SPEWED
WE HAVE TO SPEAK POLITICALLY CORRECT
OR WHAT WE SAY IS MISCONSTRUED
LIFE CERTAINLY HAS NO VALUE
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?
WHAT A DEPRESSING MOOD
IS IT GLOBAL WARMING MYTHS OR TRUTHS?
IS IT THE GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD?


By Charmaine Allwood-Hanson
Photo by Cameron Casey on Pexels.com

Friendship…

I CAN’T WALK IN YOUR SHOES
I HAVEN’T EXPERIENCED WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH
THE MISFORTUNES, THE ABUSE, WITH NO HELP
NO RESCUE
TOUGH TIMES YOU HAVE FACED, MANY TRIALS AND DISGRACE
BUT OUR FRIENDSHIP REMAIN STRONG, IT WILL NEVER BE REPLACED
I WILL BE YOUR FRIEND, WITH OUTSTRETCHED HANDS TO LEND
BECAUSE I AM LOYAL, I AM GENUINE, NOT FRAUDULENT
I WILL BE STANDING WITH YOU UNTIL THE END
I WILL GIVE A LISTENING EAR, WIPE AWAY YOUR TEARS
SHOWING MY COMPASSION AND HIGHLIGHTING MY CARE

I WILL BE A SHOULDER TO LEAN ON, BRING YOUR TRIBULATIONS
WITH OUT-STRECH ARMS I WILL BE A BATON
I WILL BE YOUR LIAISON
BRING YOUR BURDEN, LAY IT ON THE TABLE
I WILL BE AVAILABLE UNTIL YOU ARE ABLE, AND YOU ARE STABLE
I JUST WANT TO BE A FRIEND, MY WILLINGNESS TO YOU I EXTEND
THIS IS NO PRETENCE, RIDE, AND DIE TILL THE END
UPON ME, YOU CAN DEPEND, I GIVE YOU MYSELF
ALL OF ME, ONE HUNDRED PERCENT

Written by Charmaine Allwood-Hanson



Photo by Stefan Doncean on Pexels.com

We Are Caribbean

WE ARE THE CARIBBEAN
COUNTRIES AND ISLANDS
CONNECTED BY THIS VAST BLUE SEA
PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT RACES
RELIGIONS AND CREEDS

WE ARE THE CARIBBEAN
A GREAT MELTING POT
BRED FROM SLAVES, COLONIZERS
MERCHANTS, INDENTURED LABORERS
AND INDIGENOUS TRIBES
CULTURALLY WE ARE SO DIVERSIFIED

WE SPEAK ENGLISH, FRENCH
SPANISH AND DUTCH
PATOIS AND CREOLE
OUR LANGUAGES EMBODY
THE NEW AND THE OLD

WE ARE THE CARIBBEAN
OVER 26 NATIONS STRONG
LET ME NAME A FEW
AS THE LIST IS LONG

WE ARE GUYANESE, BARBADIAN
BELIZEANS AND JAMAICANS
PANAMANIANS, HAITIANS AND GRENADIANS
CUBANS, DOMINICANS, AND ANGUILLANS
WE ARE THE NATIONS OF ST. VINCENT
MONTSERRAT AND MARTINIQUE
WE ARE COUNTRIES, SMALL AND LARGE ISLANDS
WHICH MAKES OUR REGION UNIQUE

WE HAVE MOUNTAINS, VOLCANOES AND TOURIST RESORTS
WATERFALLS, HEALING AND HEALTH SPAS
TOP NOTCH SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES
WE ARE KNOWN FOR OUR DIVERSITIES

WE HAVE MANY HISTORICAL SITES
WE TRADE TOBACCO, SUGAR AND BANANAS WORLDWIDE
ALS0 OIL, CEMENT, ALUMINIUM, AND BAUXITE
OUR EXPORTS ARE OUR NATION’S HIGHLIGHTS
WE ARE THE CARIBBEAN
WE ARE FUN AND SPORTS
WE ARE CRICKET, LUDO AND DOMINOS
SOCCER, NETBALL,TRACK AND FIELD
WE ARE VERY COMPETITIVE WHEN WE COMPETE

WE ARE THE CARIBBEAN
WE ARE DANCE, TALENT, AND BEAUTY CONTEST
FESTIVALS AND CARNIVALS
AND FETES

WE ARE JERK CHICKEN, CURRY GOAT
CALALOO, ACKEE AND SALTFISH
OXTAIL, CONCH, ROTI
ROAST YAM AND FRIED FISH

DANCEHALL, STEEL DRUMS AND JUNKANOO
CALYPSO AND SOCA
WORLD RENOWNED REGGAE
MENTO AND RUMBA

WE ARE THE CARIBBEAN
OUR TRAILBLAZERS ARE EVERYWHERE
MARCUS GARVEY, SHIRLEY CHISHOLM
SYDNEY POITIER

HARRY BELAFONTE, LOUIS FARRAKHAN
THE RASTAFARIANS
MIGHTY SPARROW, BOB MARLEY
SEAN PAUL AND SHAGGY

WE HAVE TRADEMARKS
SUCH AS BLUE MOUNTAIN COFFEE
CUBAN CIGARS AND APPLETON RUM
WE ARE MARKETED FOR TOURISM AS
WHITE SAND BEACHES AND SUN
WE ARE DEFINITELY THE REGION FOR
PARTYING AND FUN

WE ARE THE CARIBBEAN
UNITED WE STAND
WE ARE THE CARIBBEAN
OUT OF MANY WE ARE ONE

WRITTEN BY: CHARMAINE ALLWOOD HANSON 06/22/2021

Photo by Leonardo Rossatti on Pexels.com

For Black Fathers

I Write. You Write. Book of Poetry which encompass poems that delight, highlights and bring insights to everyday issues of life. Written by Poet Charmaine Allwood-Hanson. Here’s a piece dedicated to black fathers.

BLACK FATHERS

SUPPORT YOUR WIVES AND BABY MOTHERS

THEY HAVE BEEN WAITING ON YOU FOR A WHILE

THEY NEED YOUR SUPPORT AT ALL TIMES

DESIST FROM YOUR SELF EXILE

BE A PARENT, FOSTER YOUR CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENT

BE A POSITIVE VOICE, GIVE THEM UPLIFTMENT

SO MANY OF OUR YOUTHS, BOYS SPECIFICALLY BUT GIRLS TOO

NO MALE ROLE MODELS THEY CAN PURSUE

 THEY HAVE NO ONE TO LOOK TO

THEY NEED YOUR ASSURANCE; THEY NEED TO FEEL VALUED

YOUR ABSENTEEISM IS DISTURBING THE MISSION

CAUSING OUR MALES TO BE PLACED IN JAILS AND PRISONS

BRING ABOUT A NEW VISION, IMPROVE THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS

WE NEED TO RAISE DISTINGUISHED MEN

GIVE THEM A FUTURE, AND NOT A DEAD-END

GUIDE THEM, ON WAYS TO BE A MAN

TEACH THEM TO RESPECT WOMEN

OUR BLACK BOYS AND GIRLS NEED LOVE

AND HUGS

NOT GANGS, GUN, OR DRUGS, NOT TO BE LABELED AS THUGS

EDUCATE THEM ON LIFE LESSONS, IN THEIR LIVES BE A BLESSING

ENCOURAGE THEM TO STAY IN SCHOOL, TO BE LEADERS AND NOT FOOLS

BLACK FATHERS, IT’S TIME TO STEP UP AND

 FILL THE VOID

SHOW UP, BE PRESENT, DON’T JUST BE A

SPERM DONOR, DON’T HIDE

BE A MAN, BE A FATHER, LIVE UPRIGHT

BUILD BLACK FAMILIES, BUILD BLACK CHILDREN LIVES

Written by Charmaine Allwood-Hanson

Saga Of George Floyd

SAGA OF GEORGE FLOYD
PLEASE I CAN’T BREATHE
I BEG YOU PLEASE, REMOVE YOUR KNEES
FROM MY NECK, OR I’LL END UP DEAD
SEE ME CRYING, LOOK I AM DYING
MY NOSE IS BLEEDING, I AM PLEADING
MY MOUTH IS FOAMING, HEAR ME MOANING
YOU HAVE ME DETAINED; YOU HAVE ME RESTRAINED

NO, I AM NOT RESISTING
MY BREATHING YOU ARE RESTRICTING
MY VEIN IS BEING CONSTRICTED

I AM SUBDUED, I AM HANDCUFFED, I AM NO THREAT
WHY DO YOU WISH UPON ME EARLY DEATH?

NINE MINUTES TWENTY-NINE SECONDS, YOU KNELT ON MY NECK

MY PULSE CHECKED, NO CPR TO RESURRECT
I AM SLOWLY DYING, I AM SLOWLY EXPIRING
MY LIFE IS FADING, IT’S SLIPPING AWAY
ON THIS WOEFUL MONDAY

I SAY I AM THIRSTY, BUT NO WATER, NO MERCY
IT SEEMS MY LIFE IS UNWORTHY

NOW I AM BARELY ALIVE, WISH I COULD BE REVIVED

DON’T THINK I WILL SURVIVE
THIS IS MY TRAUMA, MAYBE MY KARMA
I CALLED OUT FOR MY MAMA
NOW, THIS IS THE ENDING OF MY DRAMA
I AM GEORGE FLOYD, AND THAT’S MY SAGA

Written by Charmaine Allwood-Hanson 5/29/20

Photo by Life Matters on Pexels.com

Never Again…

DURING WORLD WAR 2, HITLER THE TYRANT RULED

WAR WAS WAGED, PROPAGANDA PREVAILED

THE GERMAN POSTULATED THEY WERE THE MASTER RACE

AMIDST ANTI-SEMITIC CAMPAIGNS, THE HORRIFIC NAZI REIGNED

THEY WERE EVIL, INHUMANE, AND CRUDE

THEY EXECUTED SIX MILLION JEWS

ALONG WITH MILLIONS OF GYPSIES, DISABLED, HOMOSEXUALS

AND OTHER NON-ARYANS

 SLAVIC, LEFTIST, JEHOVAH WITNESS LIVES WERE ALSO DEPLETED

MENGELE EXPERIMENTED ON TWINS, AND THEM, HE MISTREATED

BABIES BORN,   THEN DROWNED, DESPITE THE MOTHERS’ PLEADING

 MANY WERE ROBBED OF THEIR BUSINESS, BELONGINGS, AND ABODES

PLACED IN CONCENTRATION CAMPS AND CONFINED TO GHETTOES

THE INTIMIDATORS WERE THE BRUTAL SECRET POLICE, THE GESTAPO

 THE NAZIS SUPPORTERS WERE COLLABORATORS

MILLIONS WAS LED TO THE GAS CHAMBERS AND INCINERATORS

THOUSANDS STARVED, THE DISABLE EUTHANIZED

 BABIES, PREGNANT WOMEN, THE YOUNG, THE OLD AND EVEN RABBIS

WERE SUFFOCATED AND DIED FROM ZYKLON B

AND CARBON MONOXIDE

 THE RESISTANCE FIGHTERS WERE SYMPATHIZERS AND ALLIES 

THE NAZIS THEY TRIED TO DESTABILIZE

THE HOLOCAUST WAS DREADFUL, IT WAS VIOLATION OF HUMAN LIFE

IT WAS MASS MURDER, MASSACRE, IT WAS GENOCIDE

THE VITRIOLIC, THE PREJUDICE AND THE HATE

THE FEAR THAT PERMEATED EUROPE’S AIR

THE ALMOST EXTERMINATION OF THE JEWISH RACE

THIS ABOMINABLE, DESPICABLE ACT MUST NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN

WRITTEN BY CHARMAINE ALLWOOD HANSON 3/20/2021

Photo by Marlon Martinez on Pexels.com

Women’s Day…

WE CELEBRATE

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

COMMEMORATED ANNUALLY ON MARCH 8TH

TO MEMORIALIZE THE ACHIEVEMENTS THAT WE’VE MADE

GET OUR BIG UPS, RECOGNITIONS, AND ACCOLADES

WE ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED, WITHOUT AWARDS AND PRAISE

GENDER EQUALITY WE DEMAND, AND WHAT WE PROCLAIM

 OVERALL, PARITY WE COMMAND, THIS SHOULDN’T BE A DEBATE

THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA SOCIETY SHOULD STIPULATE

FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATIONS WE MUST ELIMINATE

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN WE SHOULD OBILTERATE

THERE SHOULD BE A MANDATE

ALL GIRS MUST BE SCHOOLED AND WE MUST EDUCATE

 WE ARE WORLD LEADERS, SENATORS, PRIME MINISTERS

DOCTORS, LAWYERS, AND RELIGIOUS PREACHERS

WE ARE BUSINESS OWNERS, ENGINEERS, AND TEACHERS

POLICE, NURSE, AND  ACADEMICS WITH DEGREES

OTHER PROFESSIONALS WITH VARIED EXPERTISE

WE ARE DAUGHTERS, SISTERS, WIVES, AND FRIENDS

WE ARE BEARERS OF CHILDREN

WE ARE COURAGEOUS, AMBITIOUS, AND WE ARE DRIVEN

WE ARE  FEMALES, WE ARE GIRLS, WE ARE WOMEN

WRITTEN BY: CHARMAINE ALLWOOD HANSON  3/8/2021

She…

SHE CHOSE THE WRONG MEN ALL THE TIME

SHE COULD NEVER GET IT RIGHT

SHE LOATHED THE DRAMA IN HER LIFE

SHE THOUGHT THE ABUSE AND BEATINGS WAS ALRIGHT

SHE THOUGHT THE BATTERING WASN’T A CRIME 

SHE SAID HE LOVED HER THAT’S WHY THEY FIGHT

SHE WASN’T ALLOWED FRIENDS, SHE WAS  IN A PLIGHT

SHE WAS CONTROLLED BY HIM, COULDN’T BE OUT OF HIS SIGHT

SHE SEEKED HELP, SHE TRIED TO RUN. AND SHE TRIED TO HIDE

SHE ONCE ESCAPED, BUT SHE WAS CAUGHT AND CONFINED

SHE WAS CAPTIVATED BY HIS SWEET WORDS, HE SAID “LET’S REUNITE”

SHE WAS LURED WITH FLOWERS, WINE AND DINED

SHE WAS ONCE AGAIN ASSAULTED FROM MORNING TILL NIGHT

SHE TRIED PROTECTING HER BABIES FROM THE FRIGHT

SHE SHIELD THEM WITH ALL HER MIGHT

SHE DID NOT BELIEVE UPON HIS OWN KIDS,VIOLENCE HE WOULD INCITE

SHE PLEADED AND BEGGED, BUT HE WAS NOT CONTRITE

SHE WITNESSED HIS TERROR, SHE SAW EVIL IN HIS EYES

SHE TOOK MATTERS IN HER HANDS, AND STRENGTH SHE APPLIED

SHE DID NOT MEAN TO LET HIM DIE, IN HIS CHEST SHE PLUNGED THE KNIFE

SHE ACTED IN SELF DEFENSE, BUT HER ACTION WASN’T JUSTIFIED

SHE IS NOW HEADING TO PRISON FOR A LIFETIME, HER FREEDOM DENIED

SHE DID NOT LIKE THE CHOICE

 BUT IT WAS  HIM, HER, OR THE CHILDREN’S LIFE

WRITTEN BY: CHARMAINE ALLWOOD HANSON 2/12/2021

For the battered woman

Pexel Photo

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA YOU WERE BORN
IN YOUR FIGHT AGAINST

RACIAL INEQUALITY YOU WERE SCORNED
JANUARY 15TH WAS YOUR BIRTHDAY
NOW ANNUALLY IT’S MEMORIALIZE
AND COMMEMORATED AS MLK JR DAY
A LEADER OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
YOU FOUGHT HARD FOR OUR GENERAL IMPROVEMENT
INCLUDING VOTING RIGHTS, LABOR RIGHTS
JUSTICE AND EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL
IT WAS YOUR MISSION, IT WAS YOUR CALL
YOU SPOKE OUT AGAINST RACISM AND SEGREGATION

ENCOURAGED UNITY IN THE NATION, TO MANY YOU BROUGHT SALVATION

YOU PREACHED NON-VIOLENCE AND CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
YOUR CHRISTIANITY EVIDENT, WITH YOUR BAPTIST INFLUENCE

YOU GRAPPLED AGAINST POVERTY

ALL YOU YEARNED FOR WAS HUMANITY AND RACIAL EQUALITY
A GREAT ORATOR YOU WERE, IN WASHINGTON IN 1963, YOU UTTERED
YOUR SPEECH “I HAVE A DREAM” WHICH IS ALWAYS HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM

THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE IN 1964 YOU WON
YOU, THE BAPTIST PREACHERS SON, THE RIGHTEOUS ONE
TIRELESSLY YOU WORKED AS AN ACTIVIST AND ADVOCATE
FOR BLACKS, POOR, AND THOSE WE REPUDIATE
YOU ATTENDED & LED CAMPAIGNS SIT INS’, RIOTS
MARCHES AND BOYCOTTS, YOU WERE A GIANT

DAY AFTER YOUR FINAL SPEECH IN 1968, “I HAVE BEEN TO THE MOUNTAIN TOP”
THEN YOUR ADVOCACY WAS STOPPED, BY A BULLET, A FATAL SHOT
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR, OUR ICON, ALTHOUGH LONG GONE

YOU REMAIN OUR HERO-UNSUNG

WRITTEN BY: CHARMAINE ALLWOOD HANSON

I Am Unique…

I AM ME

UNIQUE

DIFFERENT FROM YOU

I AM MYSTIQUE

I HAVE MY OWN STYLE

I HAVE MY OWN TRAITS

I DO EMULATE

 FROM OTHERS WHO DEMONSTRATE

THE SAME CHARACTER

GOOD DEEDS & WAYS

THAT I LOVE AND ADVOCATE

I DON’T DICTATE

I TEACH AND PRAISE

AND I DO PORTRAY

CONSTRUCTIVE VIBES

BECAUSE I AM OF THE TRIBE

TO BRING POSITIVITY

ALL TIME

By Charmaine Allwood-Hanson