by Baxter W Fanwar
Oh, Grenada! My Grenada!
Idyllic weather,
Salubrious climate;
No frosty winter chill,
No scorching summer heat.
Island of enamoured dreams!
Home of a happy people –
Gregarious by nature,
Warm and friendly by habit,
Industrious by practice;
Farmers — with their crops of
Cocoa and nutmeg, coconut and fig,
Fisherman — with laden nets of
daily fresh-caught jacks;
Friends sharing laughter and stories
While savouring a hearty delicious oil down on sun-kissed beach.
Happy in their fields and in their homes,
Happy in their schools and in their churches.
From your palm-fronded beaches
Of clean white shimmering sand,
To your fern-covered mountains
Of stately evergreens,
You speak to me, in language
Far more eloquent than words,
Of quietness and confidence,
Of exuberance and contentment.
The freshness of your balmy breezes
Invigorates life,
Engenders health.
The fragrance of your orchids and flowers
Delights the senses,
Enriches the atmosphere.
I love the tranquillity of the waters
Of the Caribbean Sea that surrounds you,
Whose gentle waves ceaselessly kiss
Your beaches and caress your shores.
How beautiful you look by day —
A green emerald embedded
In a satin of blue
Sparkling with buoyancy,
Bursting with pride and joy.
How enchanting you look by night —
Floating on the crest of the waves,
Serene and unconcerned,
Emanating calm and peace,
Reflecting the splendour of the skies.
The air over your towns and fields
Is pure and unpolluted still.
The water in your streams and ponds
Is clean and uncontaminated yet.
Your offspring, revelling in
The effervescence of youth,
Irrepressibly cheerful,
Eternally optimistic.
From the shores of St George’s
To the beaches of Sauteurs
You exude
Strength of character,
Stability of purpose.
Your heritage rich with
The traditions of India
The folk-lore of Africa
The influences of Europe;
The resilience of the Kalinago people,
Your culture a synchronising blend
Of all of these.
Your history —
From the tragedies of slavery
To the triumph of self-government;
From the traumatic experiences
Of the past
To the dramatic changes
Of the present;
From the gloom and regret
Of yesterday
To the radiance and joy
Of today.
Oh, Grenada! My Grenada!
Your resilience amazes me.
Your commitment intrigues me.
Your wealth of natural food
On land and in the surrounding sea
Ensures that
No one need ever beg,
No one need ever lack,
For God, who has been your
Guide and stay through your
Turbulent centuries and
Troublous years,
Is with you still today!
Oh Grenada, My Grenada.
This poem, released in celebration of the 50th anniversary, beautifully encapsulates Baxter Fanwar’s deep admiration and affection for Grenada. As a member of the Indian diaspora community who has called Grenada home since 1977, residing at Belmont Estate with his family, Fanwar’s perspective offers a unique and heartfelt tribute to the island.
“Oh Grenada, My Grenada” reflects Fanwar’s initial impressions of the island’s natural beauty and cultural richness upon his arrival, serving as a testament to his enduring connection with Grenada over the years.
Baxter,
What a great poem. I remember the stories you would tell me of Grenada. So glad you are doing well.
Greg Ingram
Beautiful.
I wrote poem “Oh Grenada” published in 2020 in Man Behind the Mask. I am trying to put together a poetry book of Grenadian poets the proceed would go to refurbish the library in St. George’s.
I would live to use your poem.
Here is my poem.
OH GRENADA
Stan K. Sujka
Oh Grenada,
You are a beautiful
elegant lady
in a sea of blue
rainbow ribbons in
your hair, clear waters
singing welcome .
Oh Grenada,
The rainforest plays
with your smoky mist;
plumage birds parade
in flowering trees.
Winds wist their welcome,
clouds flirt above your sand
and sea.
Oh Grenada,
I remember your
salt breeze running
through my hair. Dancing
dinghies kissing the horizon side
to side with the rhythm
of the tide. Homes dot
and grip your lush green
mountainsides.
Oh Grenada,
Sun and moon frolic
in your waves. Stars smile,
wink at your splendor.
Frogs and cicadas
serenade lovers
in your moonlit glow.
No clocks here mon, time
is slow.
Oh Grenada,
People, proud children
of Caribbean
sun. Sand tickling
toes, reggae music
running in their veins.
“No problem mon,” is
their song’s refrain
Oh Grenada,
I thank God for you.
My life is richer
for I was once your
adopted son. You
have captured my soul
linked me to your shores.
Oh Grenada