THE TIDES OF DEMERARA

14 POEMS

By Dmitri Allicock

A BEER TO REMEMBER

The Mackenzie Market of yesteryear

Drama and memories held most dear

The Bauxite Company’s horn blowing

A Banks Beer and customers glowing

Song & rhythm of bygone 1960s beat

The Ferry Boat and R.H Carr so sweet

Cinema to the left and School on right

Cold beer in the shade, is a lovely site

Assorted stalls of the afternoon sway

Captured moment of time that’ll stay

Shop selling delicious mauby and cake

Butcher with fresh chicken, fish & steak

A beer to remember along the riverside

Image of 50 years ago, now living inside

I’LL BUILD YOU A BOAT

Under the canopy of a mango shade

Simple tools with razor sharp blade

An axe, hammer, clamps and chisel

Hand plane that makes wood frizzle

No power tools, just some handsaws

Auger, nails, and hammer with claw

Building starts with the keel or spine

The amazing greenheart wood is fine

Earthly and sweetish hardwood smell

Saw dust and shavings casting a spell

The hull is then planked and complete

Cotton caulk of seams to prevent leak

Then inside work before paint coatings

Boat almost ready to do some floating

The best part is selecting a good name

But should it sink, I’m not to be blamed

SHOEMAKER ALLICOCK

Upper Demerara had a shoemaker then

A quiet craftsman of leather, a real gem

The last shoemaker I was lucky to meet

A dear man that was born with clubfeet

On crutches he made, stitched shoe soles

Hammered and nailed for a man’s stroll

Custom made of leather with years wore

Sweet smell of shop on the western shore

With a thimble he sewed with leather lace

Pliers, fudge- wheel and anvil at his place

Apron proudly on, he polished and shined

Last of an old custom and changing times

When Shoemaker Allicock was laid to rest

A sunny Christianburg got one of the best

Slowly ended an era as the shoemaker fade

Replaced by factory & popular ready-made

REAL QUACK DENTIST

At Wismar there was a dear Quack

No dental school but he didn’t lack

Pulling teeth in his front road shack

Before relocating in rum shop aback

Crafted dentures but needed no plaque

Had the usual tools and worked fine

Didn’t mind payment in High Wine

Made some dentures for my mother

And still fits her today like no other

Liquor and song with echoes of slack

Precious quack dentist of a time back

POTION FOR A MOTION

Cascara, carrion crow bush and senna leaves

Epson salts, castor oil, don’t cough or sneeze

Parents & Grandparents mixing their potions

Old custom of Guyana for a cleansing motion

Not for constipation but for biliousness or rash

Cramps, rumbles and the poor children dashes

Cathartic and explosion of an old time laxative

Conga pump tea and a dose of bitters fixatives

Half of a sweet orange to suck as bribe to drink

Alternative was threat of licks with belt to think

Remain real close to the toilet for I’m not joking

Or your pants or dress will be brown & soaking

Run fast! Run! Because you are getting wetter

The old people said you are getting much better

An ancient belief & practices of way back then

But I surely don’t miss that tradition and trend

LUCKYSPOT FOOTSTEPS

The tides of time always rises and falls

Oh sweet river shore my little boy calls

River gentle kisses a place once home

Forest whisper and nature now roams

Green grasses where he stood to listen

Hush Tea Water-River that softly glisten

Tide slowly flows and water washes away

A Lucky Spot of love he will always say

Upper Demerara and a little boy of five

Quiet footsteps where memories resides

[Our son Shane- Lucky Spot-Upper Demerara]

MY TWO DAUGHTERS

My girls, Ashleigh, Jasmine and me

Spring flowers of Ohio for all to see

I remember how they held my arms

Their soft voices and magical charm

I’m thankful for the blessings of two

And proud of the things that they do

The precious times through the years

Little hands, the laughter & the tears

Daddy’s girls now happy with spouse

Moment in time frozen by the house

GOT TWO FRONT TEETH

Chewing & drooling and can bite

Got two front teeth & feel alright

A lovely smile; a real bundle of joy

My Grandbaby Liam and infant boy

UNDER A CUCURITE TREE

There is a place that I’d rather be

Just to sit quietly under a cucurite tree

To hear calls of nature when spirit is low

Thoughts of life that lends a warm glow

To inspire my imagination and emotions

My undaunted roots of solid devotions

To swing in a hammock or take a rest

To feel the magic of peace I like the best

Shady fronds dancing in the light to see

To enjoy the shade from this special tree

SWOOP OF THE KISKADEE

Conspicuous Kiskadee, breast so yellow

Liked by everyone and a cheerful fellow

Boisterous attitude with deafening call

Unrelenting ringing of Kis- ka- dee bawl

White and black stripes on its big head

Perhaps tyrant bandit with mask instead

Aggressive and carries a zooming attack

Coming together to push predators back

Will suddenly swoop with lightning speed

Seizing insects then back to roost to feed

SIMITOO SWEETNESS

Found free in Guyana’s jungle

Tasty Simitoo fruits so humble

One of many that needs no care

Glory of life for those who dare

Fruit of the wild passion flower

Simitoo sweet with a little sour

Pulpy seeds and nectar of divine

Taste of Eden from entangle vine

A FRUIT CALLED WHITEY

Growing wild and sown by the birds

Elongated sugary Whitey is the word

Pod of brown seeds covered in white

Fluffy gelatin so good with every bite

Countryside of Guyana & a nice treat

Waiting on a tree and delightful to eat

JUMBEE LEF HE PIPE HEY

Jumbee lef he pipe hey?

No can no ca!

Whakine a gate dis?

Ah iron gate this

You mean I can’t break it?

No can no ca!

Ah who live in deh?

Me nah know…

Repeat…

[Game that Guyana’s children played]

MANGROVE COAST

Demerara greets the Atlantic tide

Mangrove coast and soft inside

Fountain of life spawn of muck

Succulent soldier crabs to pluck

Water fowls dancing on breeze

Entanglement of roots & leaves

Egrets, herons, stork & spoonbill

Long legged Ibis & flamingo thrill

Guyana’s mudflat and salty coast

Rich with bountiful fishes to boast

THE END