A Poem I love

I came across this poem for a class. I love it because I can relate to it so much as I am a sister and friend to many boy-men. It is my hope that all the males in my life learn what Sakinah C. Muhammad wonders.... what is it that makes a boy a man. For those of you who are not familiar with Belize Kriol, the spelling it phonetic. If you have trouble, refer to the Beeliz Kriol dictionary link to the right.

Whe Mek Wah Bway Ton Man
by Sakinah C. Muhammad from Straind Confessions, Belizean Poems published by Angelus Press LTD. 2003

Look yah mi darie,
just check this out!
every way yo ton,
every path yo look
yo si dehm all round;
all round yo, them di swell fi man;

Whe mek wah bway ton man!
dehm always wah know-
so dehm cantinue fi explore it moe and moe;

Dehm look pan the trees and dehm si the bees;
dehm si the turkey
and the peacock prance wid pride;
fi the snake, and the wom
y look like wah easy glide;

But whe mek wah bway on man!
y look so complicated, sound so
exajarated!
why y feel so difficult dehm cant
undastand;

What da wah real man anyway!
wi aught to show dehm one!
palitician, preacha, technician, teacha!
tell dehm whe qualifications dehm hav fi get;

Da no lone good looks and pretty-pretty clothes!
Y caan be muscles! Fi canvince anybody
y da have fi be moe!

How bout shiny shiny gold chain-
lat and lat a dehm?
Dehm deh no impress me way bit,
so da definitely moe;

Still, I wanda and wanda
and dehm wanda and wanda,
like deh pa and grampa before dehm;
wh mek wah bway ton man;

Some a dehm beat up pipple;
quiet, easy, puny pipple-
knock dehm down and kick dehm all ova
the place,
and still no sure if that mek dehm man;

Plenty a dehm show off,
three or four gial;
that no mek dehm man eeda;

But poe thing, dehm peo thing
really need fi know-
dah whe mek wah bway ton man?


As I read this poem, I think of three different men in my life. Well, at least to say, they are males. But what really makes these boys, my counterparts, become men?

Wedding dresses

In case you did not know, I am getting married. It is difficult to be a student and try to make wedding plans for February. I have six months to go. Somedays I feel good about it, others feel the pressure.

This pressure is interesting. It is not an inated pressure. Instead it is peer pressure x 100. It is crazy how so many people think that their helpful insistances are not so helpful.

When I tell people that I want a semi-formal wedding I often get this awkard look from them. You would think I had just said a curse word. Even one woman went into a fit of rage, insisting that no one wants a semi-formal wedding. Semi-formal weddings are not style, they are excuses for the bridel party not having enough money. In that case, I am still going to have a semi-formal wedding. It is both my style and my excuse. I do have limited finances.

Between my sister-in-law, mother, mother-in-law, friends, and older lady mentor-friend whom I call grandma, no one seems to understand that I DO NOT want a fancy dream. I want a plan cotton white ankle-length summer dress.Oh and I want my mother to sew it. If it looks homemade, good.

I don't want a veil, I want flowers in my hair, and my hair down. I do not want to spend a huge amount of money on it. I think it is immoral how some people can spend tens of thousands of dollars on a wedding. I watch a show sometimes about wedding dress shopping and I think it is digusting and self-centred to claim that you can have a day. "Its my day and I am going to be the centre of attention!" I often her brides say ont he show. Gross. I want my wedding to be about me and Beloved. Me and Beloved in love, sharing our vows with those we love.

I want to get married outside. Close to the jungle that I love. Because my dream spot is no longer an option, I am looking for a place that is beautiful. I want the place to speak for itself without a lot of decorations.

One cool morning in Febraury, in the jungle in the Cayo District, I want to have a fun wedding. No hassle. No prefection... love and friendship makes things prefect.

Last Semester's Poem

I found this poem written on a folder sheet, crumbled up and smashed between some books. I wrote it last semester, and it is not too bad, if I don't say so myself. Let me know what you think.


Hey You!
Nieghbour
Friend
Brother, Sister
Any fancy name we give for "person",
Walking down the street.
Passing me by in Life.

Do You?
Assumer
Gossip
"Concern"
You, cannot really see my story,
Walking down the street.
Passing me by in Life.

Hey You!
Stop!
Listen!
Share with me!
Let's see the beauty in our lives,
Walk with me down the street.
Joining me in Life.