Reflection: I have Seen

I have Seen
I was old….a cold life never ending nor will end and I have seen…huh?...what have I seen? I
have seen great spectacles from red and blue feathers to canvases blue and green
I have seen concealing costumes of ole mas turn into bathing suits that turned into strings that
hold things like beads no bigger than a diamond on a fifty-dollar diamond ring.
I have seen great countrymen, patriots to the heart torn apart by society, fell victim to class you
see, send children to schools, schools that make the children think that they smarter than we,
children who throw away we language and prefer to say “hey man” rather than “waiz de scene”
I have scene great scores of music written by musical masters with minds of Grecian gods of
music like Apollo and muses, be replaced by youngsters with simple loops and easy beats
designed to make people move their feet, entire songs with only drum and bass…and that could
make a woman move she waist?....well boy if you think that this rant about music done then hear
this one wherein the year twenty fifty-one a man could win road march with a song called
popcorn plum…but they say nothing wrong, but wait I not done!!!
I have seen revolts of freedom that had birthed me, reenacted every year turned into plays where
after years weeks and days, became stories of the good old days, stick fights, Spiritual wars that
lasted entire nights. Shouting chanttuelles and beating drummers in the mix of cheering crowds
and crying mothers. “Buss he head” “kill him Dead’ “BREAK THE BOIS” a long hard stick that
pass-through rituals that would make the modern mas sick.
I have seen characters like the perogrenard, dame Lorene, fancy sailor and jab jab, dance with
spirits like the devils, moko jumbie and my friend the midnight robber who have the power of
speech at the midnight hour. I don’t see none ah dem no more except the red and blue devils who
might throw paint by your door.
I have seen the working man take a stand and sing a song about the right and wrong of a country.
The sound of calypso will always remain although the wicked man would take what we know as
calypso and change it up so that we cah remember it…NO…wait I have to let you know, soca
would forever change… ah, get da… but is like soca change to kaka with a random theme, and a
mix of instruments low and high but calypso will never die
I have seen, but have you seen? Do you know who I am…maybe I’m a simple man…or the
source of energy in this land…the inspiration for bacchanal. Yes, man you got it right I for sure
is carnival. Hahaha…I may be immortal, but my body is being raided…totally degraded, soon ill
be totally faded, a shell, of a living hell that my essence will become if something is not done, I
need my message to be known by everyone…I need a messenger…will you be the one
Preface
The theme being explored in this poem entitled I have seen, is the theme of cultural degradation
as it relates to carnival. The purpose of the piece is to bring forth many issues of cultural erasure
and to highlight possible effects of this issue. The purposes are also to encourage readers to assist
in the preservation of carnival. The poem was constructed to attract a younger demographic as it
is presented in a spoken word format which is very popular among both adults and teenagers. I
would like to reach this particular audience because young people are the ones who are
eventually going to take over the functions of carnival, and it is hoped this this message
resonates with them so that they can incorporate the older elements in carnival with modern
costumes and music.
If I had the opportunity I would post this piece on all social platforms such as Facebook,
Instagram, twitter, Snapchat and Whatsapp if possible, to target the widest market available for
my message. I would present it in the form of an audio track played behind a slideshow of the
topics being discussed. I believe this would be very effective in portraying the content being
explored and will be fully engaging to the audience.