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Dominica is a special place, with nature all around<\/p>\n
Where waterfalls are plentiful, so soothing is their sound<\/p>\n
Massive trees with buttress roots tower up to the sky<\/p>\n
Before spreading out their canopy to shade us from on high<\/p>\n
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The forest that surrounds us is every shade of green<\/p>\n
With blossoms adding colour, this is an artist\u2019s dream<\/p>\n
Zel-mouche on the forest floor, heliconia leaves reach up<\/p>\n
Sweet nectar from their splendid flowers, the hummingbirds will sup<\/p>\n
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Parrots fly above us, they flit from tree to tree<\/p>\n
Whilst foraging for forest fruit, squawking noisily<\/p>\n
Agouties scour the forest floor, rummaging for food<\/p>\n
Whilst manicou sleep in the trees, at night\u2019s when they come good<\/p>\n
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Bromeliads and orchids decorate the trees<\/p>\n
Collecting moisture from the air, you can feel the forest breathe<\/p>\n
A stick insect you may observe, if your eyes are keen<\/p>\n
Or mullet swimming happily in a nearby stream<\/p>\n
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Tree lizards are a common sight, they call them Zandoli<\/p>\n
When males stick out their orange bib, that is a sight to see<\/p>\n
Abolos are larger, the ground is their domain<\/p>\n
They like to chase each other, the speed they move\u2019s insane<\/p>\n
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Green and grey iguanas, look from a bygone time<\/p>\n
Prehistoric in appearance, on our crops they like to dine<\/p>\n
Whist geckos cream with rounded toes, patrol our walls at night<\/p>\n
Their dark eyes sharp, a moth they spot, then quickly pounce and bite<\/p>\n
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Gliding through the undergrowth the grass snake wends its way<\/p>\n
Looking for a cricket or a bug on which to prey<\/p>\n
Boas are enormous and in many trigger fear<\/p>\n
But in fact they are quite harmless, that\u2019s the reality<\/p>\n
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Herons stalk the rivers, seeking crabs on which to dine.<\/p>\n
Whilst titiwi the shallows climb, thousands in a line<\/p>\n
The cackling that you may hear, a kingfisher is there<\/p>\n
Or that distant note so haunting, from the lonely solitaire<\/p>\n
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As the day begins to warm, the frigate birds appear<\/p>\n
Rising on the thermals, circling far and near<\/p>\n
Pelicans glide just offshore, where abound young fish<\/p>\n
Then suddenly they plunge and splash to catch a tasty dish<\/p>\n
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Butterflies are all around, to watch them is such fun<\/p>\n
Their wings spread out like solar cells, harvesting the sun<\/p>\n
When perched upon a pretty flower, feeding looks quite hard<\/p>\n
To reach that tasty nectar, their tongues curl out so far<\/p>\n
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Sunsets are a wondrous sight, there are no two alike<\/p>\n
Descending o\u2019er the ocean, taking with it our daylight<\/p>\n
When the skyline has no clouds, we look for the green flash<\/p>\n
A golden yellow shrinking spot, turns green, then quick, it\u2019s past<\/p>\n
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The sky begins to darken, the birds all go to roost<\/p>\n
To be replaced by flying mice, which also have a use<\/p>\n
Those radar ears of bats detect the sound of tiny wings<\/p>\n
They hoover up mosquitoes, devour those pesky things<\/p>\n
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With air so clear the evening sky becomes a glorious sight<\/p>\n
A million stars are there to see, twinkling so bright<\/p>\n
The constellations can be seen, bright is Orion\u2019s belt<\/p>\n
A shooting star, that streak of light, a meteorite doth melt<\/p>\n
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A spot of light is moving fast, it is a satellite<\/p>\n
And when the moon is overhead, it\u2019s almost like daylight<\/p>\n
Flashing lights of green and red, a plane is on its way<\/p>\n
Bringing tourists from afar, to enjoy a sunny stay<\/p>\n
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When sun and earth and moon align, there is a shadow cast<\/p>\n
The moon blocks out the sunshine, light dims until its past<\/p>\n
Or when the shadow of the earth is cast upon the moon<\/p>\n
In full, its colour changes, just like a red balloon<\/p>\n
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The moon above the ocean sends a thousand shards of light<\/p>\n
Reflecting on a rippled sea, the waves they dance so bright<\/p>\n
Then there\u2019s the nighttime chorus, cicadas on the trees<\/p>\n
The crickets chirp and when it rains, the tweet of frogs sounds sweet<\/p>\n
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As the night time ebbs away, the cooing doves begin<\/p>\n
Distant roosters start to crow, the birds all start to sing<\/p>\n
The day begins, the sky is clear, the air it feels so fresh,<\/p>\n
It\u2019s time for breakfast, local juice, bananas, pawpaw flesh<\/p>\n
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Volcanos are our backbone; their peaks reach up so high<\/p>\n
So many in one tiny spot, earth\u2019s moving plates are why<\/p>\n
Telltale signs are all around, hot springs we so adore<\/p>\n
Tiny bubbles like champagne, rise from the ocean floor<\/p>\n
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Clouds of steam are swirling from the churning boiling lake<\/p>\n
Though getting there is quite a hike, it\u2019s an effort all should make<\/p>\n
The scenery is splendid, up slopes, ahead we forge<\/p>\n
Once back we soak our tired limbs, in the Titou Gorge<\/p>\n
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At Chaudier the water\u2019s deep, you can high dive from the side<\/p>\n
Or enter from the stream above, on nature\u2019s water slide<\/p>\n
A Malfin circles in the sky, scouting from above<\/p>\n
Its telescopic eyes seek out a lizard or a dove<\/p>\n
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The long and winding roads traverse our steep topography<\/p>\n
And from above, that forest cloak makes them so hard to see<\/p>\n
At last we reach a mountain pass, we stop our eyes to feast<\/p>\n
The Caribbean Sea lies west, the Atlantic to the east<\/p>\n
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And in between a landscape, of colour bathed in sun<\/p>\n
Our cameras click, we take our snack, the tour has just begun<\/p>\n
As we pass through farmland, the workers can be seen<\/p>\n
Tending crops of pineapple, bananas or dasheen<\/p>\n
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Saturday is market day, with fruit and veg piled high<\/p>\n
Round vendor\u2019s stalls the public throng, their groceries to buy<\/p>\n
Sundays is when friends meet up, on a west coast beach<\/p>\n
Or a picnic by the river, there\u2019s always one in easy reach<\/p>\n
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The fishermen bring in their catch, into a conch they blow<\/p>\n
That fish is ready to be sold, it lets the locals know<\/p>\n
We see a ferry moving fast, a white tail in its wake<\/p>\n
To Guadeloupe or Martinique, its a trip we like to make<\/p>\n
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And in the ocean waters, whales and dolphin play<\/p>\n
A giant turtle comes ashore, in the sand its eggs to lay<\/p>\n
Snorkeling is also fun, the western sea is calm<\/p>\n
It\u2019s like another world down there, the water\u2019s clear and warm<\/p>\n
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The western world we left behind, strangers rarely say hello<\/p>\n
Here it\u2019s different, greetings flow, almost everywhere you go<\/p>\n
Your car might have a problem; you stop to see what\u2019s wrong<\/p>\n
Those passing often offer help, its fixed before too long<\/p>\n
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In abundance talent flows, in music and the arts<\/p>\n
When Michele sings it always lifts our spirits and our hearts<\/p>\n
Forest scenes are reproduced, on canvas for our walls<\/p>\n
In harmony a choir sings, rejuvenates our souls<\/p>\n
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Carnival is always fun for young and old alike<\/p>\n
Steel pans ring out our favourite songs, the music comes alive<\/p>\n
The costumes are amazing, queen contestants lead the way<\/p>\n
We gaze up at stilt walkers, it\u2019s a colourful array<\/p>\n
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When Creole time arrives each year, there\u2019s lots to see and do<\/p>\n
Fashion shows, Ms Wob Dwiyet, all in madras costume<\/p>\n
On Creole Day we all dress up, and go to work that way<\/p>\n
Then three nights of live music, go on until next day<\/p>\n
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Jazz ‘n Creole at Cabrits is a summertime event<\/p>\n
Outdoors in the afternoon, the music\u2019s heaven sent<\/p>\n
Cannons line the ramparts, at this historic fort<\/p>\n
Where in the past the French and English, many battles fought<\/p>\n
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Sometimes our lives are threatened by the actions of mankind<\/p>\n
A hurricane approaches, safe shelter we must find<\/p>\n
When it hits the rivers roar, bridges wash away<\/p>\n
Roofs blow off and buildings flood, it\u2019s a course we have to stay<\/p>\n
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Once the weather eases, we assess the aftermath<\/p>\n
The damage that we must repair, in the wake of nature\u2019s wrath<\/p>\n
Restoring can be costly, we all must toil and sweat<\/p>\n
We try to help each other, whilst descending into debt<\/p>\n
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A year has passed the roads are patched, our power lines restored<\/p>\n
The buildings we repaired are now much stronger than before<\/p>\n
Despite the climate turmoil that the future holds in store<\/p>\n
This paradise is still our home, we couldn\u2019t wish for more<\/p>\n
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But then the unexpected, a deadly virus strikes<\/p>\n
The outside world is falling sick, we\u2019ve never known the likes<\/p>\n
Western leaders in a tizz, chasing round like dizzy flies<\/p>\n
Unprepared and ill equipped, the blame game now applies<\/p>\n
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Here we had some common sense, our ports were quickly closed<\/p>\n
Strict testing on arrival, and quarantine for most<\/p>\n
Our neighbours acted likewise, but soon became blas\u00e9<\/p>\n
Allowing back the cruise ships, now they\u2019re in a bad way<\/p>\n
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As I write we flourish still, though patience is the key<\/p>\n
The vaccine roll-out\u2019s going well, so soon we should feel free<\/p>\n
To throw away our facemasks and once again shake hands<\/p>\n
To get a hug from grandma and not avoid our friends<\/p>\n
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Our leaders they have acted well, its safety first we know<\/p>\n
Our health is more important, than tourists in Roseau<\/p>\n
For all those wishing from outside, to share our paradise<\/p>\n
A week in isolation first, they know that is the price<\/p>\n
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The time has flown since we moved here, two dozen years ago<\/p>\n
The garden trees we planted, it\u2019s been fun to watch them grow<\/p>\n
So as I write I can reflect, our lives are surely blessed<\/p>\n
Dominica has a special charm, in nature we\u2019re caressed<\/p>\n
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This planet that we live on, right now is under threat<\/p>\n
Beyond our shores eternal growth is the trend we must forget<\/p>\n
Our species has to change its ways for our children to survive<\/p>\n
The future\u2019s plan we must construct for our planet to revive<\/p>\n
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A billion years of nature\u2019s way made possible mankind<\/p>\n
Diversity\u2019s the key to life, a solution we must find<\/p>\n
To overcome the power, that greed and wealth now wield<\/p>\n
Requires a total reset, some comforts we must yield<\/p>\n
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A distant Empire\u2019s in decline, crumbling at the core<\/p>\n
Balance needs to be returned, between the rich and poor<\/p>\n
A monster of financial might, relies on distant wars<\/p>\n
This can only be undone, with democracy restored<\/p>\n
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We watch this pantomime play out, as the years roll by<\/p>\n
From our semi isolation, upon the nature isle<\/p>\n
We live our life in harmony, that\u2019s why I pen this rhyme<\/p>\n
Dominica, Eden\u2019s best, is paradise sublime<\/p>\n
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