by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI
The joint Spoken Word initiative of CCSJ and the Youth Commission proved to be a real treat. We say ‘Thanks’ to the 17 young contestants who ‘fired-up’ TCN’s studio on Friday October 30. Each received a Medal of Participation. The three winners were: 1st prize: Michael Logie, Tunapuna; 2nd prize: Shineque Saunders, Princes Town; and 3rd prize: Darrion Narine, St Joseph.
Since the competition was part of ‘Justice, Peace and Community Week’, the theme was: Building inclusive communities.
Michael’s reference to Hebrews 10:24 is noteworthy. Rather than ‘bruising’ each other, “Let us be concerned for each other, to stir a response in love and good works.” CCSJ is seeking to publish the contributions of each contestant. We must acknowledge the talent of our youths.
Here is Michael’s winning contribution:
CCSJ Spoken Word winners Michael Logie and Shineque Saunders.
“Look at us……Where are we going?
I mean we living
We working
And we were once employed in the most heavenly job…..and we got fired.
Now we’re living in hell fire that we call home
A home, that isn’t even built.
I had to say isn’t because we only focus on gathering material things
We intend to build a house that God wouldn’t see fit
And I guess the foundation for building anything is the blueprint
So some people out here would do anything for the blueprint
Because that’s where our vision is lying
But if money is all that we are seeing then our vision is lying
And once they attain that blueprint
We then focus on designing
Designer clothes
To comfort our souls that they already lost to fame and fortune
To comfort our souls
That they already lost to greed
Because once someone seems to be well dressed or dressed better than us
We become covetous
For some clothes.
I hope when we make our way up to heaven we don’t be angry
When we see the door with a sign saying ‘Close.’
Then we place a roof on our evil home
We place every piece of wood neatly and make sure it snaps into place
We make sure that living ounce of flesh gets his neck snapped out of place
And the roof is now completed after we treat our brothers like dogs.
Roof!
And that’s the house that we use our souls to build
The devil’s paradigm
To create the devil’s paradise.
But what we need to do is remove our disguise
And realize that the only blueprint we should be chasing is the skies
Because we need GOD
And we need to understand, that it doesn’t matter if Christ is a black, blue, green or yellow man
It doesn’t matter
So we must end the hate and stop uttering
The negative insults to the Indians, Africans, Chinese
Let’s take our minds out of the gutter
And make amends
Then graciously wear the fabric that the maker mends.
Let’s mend together a community
From the one month old child
To the 93 year old granny
And it’s only then, when all are involved another important element for our house evolves…….
A tank.
Then when we open our hearts and fill the tank with love
We would truly feel the essence of being thankful
The youths must produce the spark to shock the elders
And the elders must be good conductors of these shocking results
Because it takes a village to raise a child
But only one crooked child to raise a village into chaos.
Let us neglect the anger
And raise the younger generation into believing that they have the strength and power to raise up ceilings
We have the strength and more power in our souls than Power Gen…
C’mon
Clap your hands if you think we should start to empower our women.
I know grandparents too sweet like sugar cane
So let us not leave our grandpas and grannies to decay
But instead let’s be the cane that they use to get across the street.
My granny always has a cross around her neck
So I will pray for my granny from now until she cross paths with death.
Parents, don’t disappear
Be a pair to your kids
Mother and Father.
And don’t ever leave bruises on their skin
As for me,
I’m not going to hurt you
But I am going to leave you with a bruise
Hebrews10:24
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works
Because everyone deserves to be loved
In the development of an inclusive community.
