SESSION 3 — Exploring Community Through Poetry
Photo by Joyce Marie Cantrell on Unsplash
Discussion:
Community—You know how we Caribbean people do it: with lots of laughter, music, food and a little bacchanal.
What aspects of community does the following poem explore and celebrate?
What techniques and strategies does it use to do so?
It Was the Singing
Edward Baugh
It was the singing, girl, the singing, it was that
that full my throat and blind my eye
with sunlight. Parson preach good, and didn’t
give we no long-metre that day
and Judge Hackett make us laugh to hear
how from schooldays Gertie was a rebel
and everybody proud how Sharon talk
strong about her mother and hold her tears.
But the singing was sermon and lesson and eulogy
and more, and it was only when we raise
“How Great Thou Art” that I really feel
the sadness and the glory, wave after wave.
Daddy Walters draw a bass from somewhere
we never hear him go before, and Maisie
lift a descant and nobody ask her,
but it was the gift they bring, it was
what they had to give and greater
than the paper money overflowing the collection
plate. It was then I know we was people
together, never mind the bad-minded and the carry-down
and I even find it in my heart to forgive
that ungrateful Agnes for everything she do me
and I sing and the feelings swelling in my chest
till I had to stop and swallow hard.
Then sings my soul, my saviour God to thee,
How great thou art, how great thou art ...
and we was girls again together, Gertie
and me by the river, and then the singing
was like a wide water, and Gertie laughing
and waving to me from the other side.
Girl, I can’t too well describe it.
Was like the singing was bigger than all of we
and making us better than we think we could be,
and all I asking you, girl, is when
my time come to go, don’t worry
make no fuss bout pretty coffin
and no long eulogy; just a quiet place
where gunman and drug addict don’t haunt,
and if they sing me home like how they sing Gertie
I say thank you Jesus, my soul will sleep in peace.
Writing Prompt
1. What does community look like and feel like for you? Write a poem describing the way community has shown up in your life. This can be a memory of an event or happening, or it can be something imagined. It’s up to you.
If you’d like to share your new creation with us, click below. We’d love to read your work!