Wednesday, January 13, 2016

171

image courtesy Poets United

SOCA LAND is written for the prompt today at
Midweek Motif ~ Food


...

Twelfth Night - William Shakespeare [excerpt]
ACT I SCENE I. DUKE ORSINO's palace.

Enter DUKE ORSINO, CURIO, and other Lords; Musicians attending
DUKE ORSINO
If music be the food of love, play on;
Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken, and so die...

❧✿❧

[Exit all - Enter : A New Day]
SCENE II SOCA LAND aka T&T

Soca, is my name
No one can call me tame

I feed on the hips of the young
Not so young, and think young

Carnival is my meal
Sumptuous hearty yield

I know how to make dem whine
Without grapes, i make dem whine

[Exit A New Day: Enter Bacchanalia]
SCENE III: The Road Monday and Tuesday

Party all day all night
Feathers and plumes, plumed feathers
days of Carnival --
fun in the sun, hot hot dust
in yuh face, but who? who cares

[Exit Bacchanalia: Enter incense and ashes]
SCENE IV: Sobriety

Ash Wednesday comes
Pigeon peas pelau left overs
from Tuesday?
the family meal is served
with ashes on the fore head

food for thought -
on the high voltage wires
piece of a costume
SOCA LAND © gillena cox 2016



Process Note
Soca - genre of songs born in Trinidad and Tobago, a mix of Soul and Calypso; sung and also played by Steelbands
T&T -Trinidad and Tobago
dem - them
yuh - your
pelau - a rice and pigeon peas cook up can be done with or without meat
ashes - on the Wednesday, starting the Lenten season for Catholics, ashes is applied to the forehead of the congregation, by the priest, or appointed ministers; at Holy Mass.


28 comments:

  1. I enjoyed getting to know a bit about your culture and customs from your poetry, Gillena!

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    1. hanks for your appreciation Mary

      much love...

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    2. Nice post Gillena ...incidentally what you say pelau is called Palau in India in Hindi and several other Indian languages...

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    3. Oh, nice Ajaya, thanks for dropping in

      Much love...

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  2. I was expecting a video to get a taste of this fun filled lines of a beautiful culture at the end and I got it!!! wow!! thanks for the post :)

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  3. This is amazing :D such an enjoyable read :D


    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  4. this poem tell us more..
    good written gillena
    good luck!

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  5. Ahhh...the Carribbean customs and culture. love their food love their music. thanks for this glimpse of your tropical life, Gillena. fun and delicious all the same.

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  6. Thanks for your appreciation James

    Much love...

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  7. Celebrating life with such enthusiasm. What a vibrant culture. Thanks for posting this

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    1. Thanks for your appreciation Madhuri

      Much love...

      Delete
  8. Play on! I get the flavor of carnival, but hope that the songs of carnival do not stop the appetite but only stop us from dwelling on our troubles! Fun use of the Shakespeare, great short scenes and sense of time passing and, luv the music.

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    1. Thank you for your appreciation Susan

      much love...

      Delete
  9. Such a vibrant culture! I really enjoyed your poem and the video, Gillena!

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  10. Rice and lentils/beans... comfort food!!! Yumm!!

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  11. Good thing there is lots of sun - keeps people active so that food doesn't become a permanent "attribute."
    Food really is a beautiful reflection of our family and culture isn't it?

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for your appreciation Leslie

      much love...

      Delete
  12. What a joyous piece - a real carnival..i like how you have played with form and quotes.. :)

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for your appreciation Jae
      Much love...

      Delete