Thirsty, oh so thirsty, but my tears are seared by the sun’s rays
As they slowly trickle to the ocean. Don’t my children care?
My body slowly sacrificed by greed and oh so few pay
Attention to my pain. I don’t know how much more I can bear.
I feel the marks of slavery, injustice and prejudice on my bare back,
As my children rape, fight, kills, scam and mock each other,
Then hail themselves a victor on my naked body. A lack
Of respect for friendship, or mankind, or goals, or values, and no one bothers
To protect me, or comfort my exposed soul. Oh my dear offspring,
I love you much, and have cradled and fed you from birth,
But love for me is scant from my very own. I can’t sing
And produce healthy fruits if you abuse this earth.
Look around you; hear my cry. These days, my tears of joy are few.
What other signs do you need before your cruelty cease?
Do you not remember the raging storms and how the tempest blew?
My surface trembled as the plates shook, but still I your family feed.
My innocence is being torn from me every day. No, longer can I say
I don’t house a serial killer, or my prisons are not filled.
No longer can I boast that the “thugs of life” I have delayed
From my shores. But how much more can I stomach ‘till my breath be still?
JOEL CHALLENGER.
Great work Mr.Challenger.Yours poem depicts how we must care for the things around us.Often times we take it for granted,without putting the negative impact into consideration.Let`s celebrate life everyday and love each other in a special way.
Loving this poem…can’t wait to read the others
is this poem about the people alive in Dominica, their attitude and how it will affect the future Generation
I guess you don’t know this, “SHAMM”… but rhyme is just one of the techniques used in poetry. Do a little research and you’ll find that out. It’s good to be educated about these things so you don’t make a fool of yourself for all of the people on DNO to see.
Thank you all for your lovely comments. I’m currently working on a poetry book on poems about nature and our beautiful island Dominica, which will be surfacing soon. You may find more information about it on my fan page on Facebook. Here is the link:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Joel-Challenger/146611182040689
I am not criticizing the writer of this poem, I just do not understand the reason for the theme of the majority of the responses. Most responses describe this poem as if it brings joy to their hearts, and that idea gives me the impression that no one received the true message of this poem.
The writer has presented The Nature Isle as a parent, who laments over the lack of appreciation, the lack of consideration, the lack of respect, their disgusting attitude and conducts, and their abuse of her rich provisions, from the children she dearly loves.
He writes: “My body slowly sacrificed by greed and oh, so few pay attention to my pain. I do not know how much more I can bear. My children rape, fight, kill, scam and mock each other. Then they hail themselves a victor on my naked body.” I could go on and on with the lamenting theme that I found in this poem. But DOMINICAN LOVER says: “Yes, a poem of a dream time. Alas but true.” What is the essence of that response?
I love Dominica too! And if she is infact, the Nature Island of that poem, then she represents my parents–my mother! How can I desribe dreaming of my mother saying those things about me and not call it a nightmare? But another comment said it was a “glorious masterpiece!” Good heavens, have mercy on our ignorance!
Again, I need to say that I am not criticizing the writer of this poem. I am just wondering whether we would have responded differently if we had received the message he sent to us? Yes, his message does speak a lot of truths. God has blessed us with the most beautiful paradise–our Nature Island, Dominica. I imagine that He moves about from the top our mountains, watching, protecting, feeding, and guiding us. But are we aware of it, to give Him thanks and praise every minute of our lives.
We went out of the way to give Joel the honor for his writing, but is that what his message wants us to do? He writes: “Look around you, hear my cry, these days my tears of joy are few” No longer can I say I do not house a serial killer, or my prisons are not filled. No longer can I boast that “the thugs of life” I have delayed from my shores. But how much more can I stomach “till my breathe be still?”
Fellow Dominicans, the theme of Joel’s poem is not a theme that calls for us to exalt him with praises and honor for being a great writer. The theme of Joel’s poem should provoke the attitude of remorse in us. The purpose of all things that are written is to produce a response–some are fruitful some are not so fruitful. Remorse is a reaction that calls us to be sorry about our ways and causes us to desire to make amends. Joel’s poem should provoke that desire in those of us who love our Dominica and its people.
Our Nature Island, Dominica, is the speaker of this poem–our loving parent, I would rather call her Mother–expressing her grief, in the form of lament, over our brutal response to the beauty and Love of Life that she is offering to us.
Joel’s poem is an example of the way God Almighty laments over the brutal way we have treated His Love in Jesus Christ, to us. But just like in Joel’s poem, we have failed to receive the truth and we respond with lack of wisdom and understanding, thinking that Joel is the one we must exalt. I hope for his own sake that he is a humble man. For the nurturing of pride and arrogance is a distructive attitude; and Satan will go out the way to feed us with his destructive patterns.
The Nature Island, Dominica, in Joel’s poem represents God and His Love for us, desiring that we would change our hearts, our minds, and our soul; that we might practice to know the Life that is peace and joy, for peace and joy is the actual state of Love, and Love is Life–the Light of our soul.
In Dominica, the Life of Love is all around us and as far as we can reach out for it. We simply need humility, trust, and obedience to God, and to our fellow members of human authority. Faith in the power of God’s Love will protect us from the evil that men do.
We need to allow God’s Holy Spirit to open up our minds that His guidance, laws, wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, might flow out from our conscience by our channel of faith. We need to steer away from our path of darkness unto our path of Light; we need to overcome our blindness and deafness and to become empowered by vision and great hearing.
As we strive to stop the laments of our Dominica, so are we striving to stop the lament of our God. And without the laments of our Dominica we become a people who does everything to give our God the greatest delight. That is the provocation to us, from the laments of Joel’s poem.
Your best poem yet! Keep it up Joel! you will go far ;)
Do you not remember the raging storms and how the tempest blew? My favourite line it just fit in there so nicely had to quote it. Very thought provoking piece, much appreciated read.
P.s i agree with nitara
wicked poem my brother
thank you admin
i must commend you mr.challenger on such an outstanding poem. very well delivered…Dominica thanks you!
inspirational words sir…..coming from you i know i can always expect the best. keep up the good work and God bless you and your family
Couldnt tell you directly that this poem touched my little soul. Great job must admit. Made me take a step back and think of what has been happening to DA. Love it.
Thank you very much for your many wonderful and encouraging comments. Such incredible support definitely fuels creativity .
You know what I think already…up next is the calypso !! I know you were waiting for the haters but not even a hater can hate this one ! Good job !
WOW! Didn’t realize you were so great at poetry that’s why you’re an English lecturer . Well the Joel i know is very much “quiet” and with that comes a lot of thinking and creative imagination so im not surprised at all. Way to go jojo!!
Wow…real cool…so true…makes u think….hmmm….
Great poem Joel. Like the personification of the Nature Isle.
If you are a facebook user please feel free to also share the poem on the “poetry centre”
http://www.facebook.com/NatureIslandLiteraryFestival?v=app_2373072738#!/topic.php?uid=175372073696&topic=10565
Also there is normally a session for local poets at Dominica’s literary festival which will be held in August. If you are interested in performing leave a message on the facebook page
Hi Brother,
Wow! Off course you know I would love it. You have always been so creative in writing. This would be a great poem to have dramatized too. Please dont’ stop on this one and continue. I trust those who read the poem will begin to appreciate all that we have in life.
Continue to do your best with educating lives. Someone is learning.
Great job. I’ll share it with others to get feedback.
my msn is not workign for a while.
your sister,
jan
loved that poem, alot of imagery, creativity and the personification of Dominica.
Would like to invite you to a meeting of the writers guild this afternoon from 4:00p.m. at the Old Mill. We need new blood and as a new blood myself, i think you will fit right in.
Dee
beautiful poem. i loved reading every bit of it. its so touching and deep. its good to see someone calling out the cry of our sweet Dominica. i hope this poem serves to enlighten our minds and heats to the pain and agony of our country and once we acknowledge the problem, can work together to fix it. this poem has the ability to do just that, and then some! keep up the good work. u have a raw talent. looking forward to see some more great work:).
oh i forgot to say….Great job Mr.Challenger!!
Beautiful poem, very inspiring, and so true!
Beautiful words, about a beautiful place… makes for a beautiful poem! Well written Joel!
Great work Mr.Challenger. This is indeed a wonderful poem.
Great Poem, talented poet!
It is so amazing to know how talented we are as a people. I trust that your work is being published, brother.
I felt your pain through your words and I can understand how important your message is. I, too, realize that we must take our place as citizens to restore, preserve and protect our island. We have to realize that if we do not protect what we have we will eventually lose it in the future.
This is really a call for us to unite.
I love this poem, such creativity sends a great message and it is great to see Dominica’s raw talent being showcased. I hope through this we can learn to stop taking our country for granted, see such talented individuals we have among us here on the nature isle! :-D…Great Job Joel ;)
very proud of my cousin. this is beautiful.
x
The great and glorious masterpiece of C**** !lol..must get him to do a poem for me..brilliant!
It’s deep but because of the way it started thought it was going to be about how the land suffers from the current drought situation. But as I read on, I realise it was all about Dominica’s suffrage fostered by the many ills happening in the land.
Sends a strong message.
Great stuff Joel.
Beautiful piece. A real Dominican poet who can capture a thought and recreate it in a stimulating manner. Expecting more quality work coming from your way Challenger.
hey Joel didnt know u were so talented! lol lol u know ima be wicked…anyways…lovely poem…so where is the Book of poems? I’m waiting patiently…
absolutely true,love it
ohwow.. deep…it brought a tear to my eye. seriously. hmph..they cry of an abused country. hmmmmmmmmmm
this is amazing. good work Joel. I absolutely love this poem. Thanks DNO for showcasing it.
Oh Dominicans please listen Joel’s cry and do not wait till your breath be still to replenish her lovely soul.
She needs the blessing to you and me becuase she has so much more to secure and feed.
LET’S ALL BEGIN THE CAMPAIGN NOW TO RESTORE HER PRIDE AND BEAUTY
I just love that poem. It comes from someone with a real creative mind and or imagination. God bless you. Continue your good work… …
now that is poetry
Yes a poem of the dream time. Alas but true.
A very indepth nature poem, let’s trade;)
Love it Joel….I see the poems start coming in!! DNO needs a special page for the poems(and short stories) ;)
You see the talent that can be showcased, when given the outlets
DNO thanx for allowin us the opportunity
A melancholy cry from the heart indeed for the beloved country…Respect.
AMAZING.