Oh, Grenada! My Grenada!

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.

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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.