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Overview
Collis Sherman Bell's Sweet Island Breezes presents a collection that spotlights her native homeland, The Bahamas. With her poetry, she hopes to entertain, enlighten, engage, and inspire readers and create a deeper appreciation for the beauty and richness of the islands. Bell's poetry resonates with the challenge to recapture, cherish, or create our own island memories.
Sweet Island Breezes includes poems and essays based upon and inspired by her life in the islands. Her verses explore her childhood, family, and friends, with a particular focus on depicting Bimini, the island of her birth. For example, her poem, "Sunrise to Sunset," describes a typical day in Bimini in the 1970s. Other poems deal with her faith and offer hope and encouragement to everyone. Bell's commitment to her community is evident in her poems about social issues like education and paying it forward.
Sweet Island Breezes offers an inspiring collection of works conjuring lovely memories of her life in The Bahamas and also provides a glimpse into her present life and beliefs.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781475997873 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | iUniverse, Incorporated |
| Publication date: | 07/11/2013 |
| Pages: | 154 |
| Product dimensions: | 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.36(d) |
Read an Excerpt
Sweet Island Breezes
Poems and Essays
By Collis Sherman Bell
iUniverse LLC
Copyright © 2013 Collis Sherman BellAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4759-9787-3
CHAPTER 1
Naturally Speaking
B.A.H.A.M.A.S.
Beautiful Bahamaland, breathtaking islands and cays
Archipelago of 700 islands, sprinkled from Florida to Haiti
History rich with African heritage and British colonial influences
Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, Baptist and more; a God fearing nation
Most popular tourist destination among Caribbean islands
Atlantic Ocean's shallow waters surround islands; "Baja Mar" means
shallow sea
Smiles, surf, sand and sun make The Bahamas great fun.
Creation of The Bahamas
God set the planets in the sky
And charged the stars to give light,
Continents and oceans He filled with life,
Animals and trees all multiplied,
Creation so beautiful
The angels cried.
God penned a note on a heavenly pad;
He had a sweet sensation,
With great enthusiasm He continued
For He was not yet finished
With creation.
From a special place He took sand and rocks,
And stirred them gently in a potion,
An archipelago of tiny islands
He sprinkled into the Atlantic Ocean.
A nation, a tropical paradise,
Golden sun, beautiful and bountiful sea,
Miles of white sandy beaches,
What God made was truly lovely.
God saved the best for last,
With this creation
He was well pleased.
The Bahamas, He said,
Was more than nice.
He declared it Paradise!
Archipelago of Natural Wonders
Sailing through the islands
From the north to the south
Travel writer Bill was amazed,
He couldn't shut his mouth.
There was so much to do or see
When he started
His fact-finding expedition
From Abaco's Walker's Cay.
An archipelago,
Of one hundred thousand square miles;
Low lying islands, shallow seas
And reefs made him smile.
Azure waters, secluded sandy beaches,
Each island with its own flavor,
Bill reached for his camera
As there were many sights to savor.
He saw the longest underwater cave
And cavern system known to man,
Fascinated by them, he stayed so long
In Grand Bahama, he lost his salon tan.
In Bimini, the "Gate Way" to The Bahamas,
Where big game fish are caught,
He searched for the Fountain of Youth
But it wasn't where he thought.
He sailed southeast to Andros,
The fifth largest island in the Caribbean,
With a population of less than 10,000
Not many of the locals were seen.
Wanting human companionship,
He sailed to New Providence;
Home to nearly 70%
Of all of the nation's residents.
He saw Atlantis Resort
Rising out of the sea,
A major tourist draw,
A destination of top quality.
He reloaded his camera,
Snapping many pictures
Of Bay Street's historical,
Colonial buildings and fixtures.
To his wife he wrote,
"Don't expect me back soon.
I'm off to Eleuthera,
For the Pineapple Festival in June!"
On Cat Island's Mount Alvernia
He was king of the world
On top of the country's highest point;
He took photos to show to his girls.
He slept with one eye open,
He was afraid of obeah,
He heard it was like voodoo
And it was practiced there.
On Long Island, scuba diving,
He felt he'd struck gold,
In the deepest blue hole in the country;
Dean's Blue Hole!
He skipped several islands
Concluding his trip
On the island of Inagua,
The archipelago's tip.
He saw the largest colony
Of the national bird;
West Indian Flamingos
As beautiful as he had heard.
Exhausted but thrilled
Bill returned to his homeland,
In his travel editorial he wrote,
'The Bahama Islands are Naturally Grand!'
Bimini is Magnetic
The tiny island of Bimini
Is a pearl in the turquoise sea.
The little island of Bimini
Will always be home to me.
Many have come to visit,
Many have come to stay,
Some quite unknown,
Some famous like Hemmingway.
The charm of Bimini calls them,
The living is simple, island style.
Whoever comes to the island
Usually stays for a while.
Bimini is a fishing mecca;
Attracting sport fishermen
In luxurious and modest boats,
They fish and fish to no end.
Bimini was a sleepy island,
Now it is wide awake.
Development will change the scenery
But not its flavor, for goodness sake!
The Beach at Dawn
Sitting motionless, relaxed, leaning back against the trunk of a tall and shady pine tree, breathing in the fresh air, I was the sole visitor to my childhood beach. The early morning had already begun to warm up, as was normal for summer mornings in Bimini. The coarse white sand stuck to the back of my legs and thighs but provided a cool feeling. The gentle lapping sounds of the semi placid ocean were mesmerizing as the tide lazily trickled onto the beach. The tranquility of the beach spoke volumes! Not a creature was stirring. No vehicles passed along the narrow hill street, which seemed to always have a constant stream of scooters and trucks racing by. No boats cruised the still sea. Even the sea gulls were still resting! The beach at dawn provided the perfect place for meditation, for clearing one's thoughts, a place to reflect on God and His awesomeness.
As a child, visiting the beach was always an enjoyable and soothing activity. Building sand castles, drawing and writing in the sand and playing in the crystal clear waters was great fun. Anything dropped into the waters could be easily spotted and retrieved. However, that morning, I had another appreciation of the beach. I was able to sit still and be mesmerized by my childhood sandlot. My solitude was finally disturbed by a lone sea gull; flying overhead, noisily flapping its wings, then perching atop a splinter-ridden light post screaming out its "good morning". The post was once a pine tree which probably served as a shady tree from which to enjoy the beach. Many of the pine trees which once dotted the beaches of Bimini had been destroyed by hurricanes, toppled or snapped like twigs in the violent winds. Others fell due to beach erosion, as the sand washed away from under them, leaving very little support for the roots.
Scanning the beach and the horizon, I was quickly reminded of why I was on the beach at 6:15 a.m. The morning tide was low, exposing jagged rocks and more beach area than usual. It's incredible the way the beach changes from high to low tide. High tide eliminates more of the sandy beach and low tide exposes more beach. The sky was washed with yellows and oranges as the sun crested the horizon; from my vantage point the sun could be seen making its first appearance of the day. As it kissed the horizon goodbye, the sun began its ascent into the inviting island sky; a clear, cloudless sky, as blue as the most perfect summer skies. The sun was being hoisted into the sky by an invisible pulley system; the works and beauty of nature are surely unmatched and amazing!
The sun gave energy to the morning. Everything around me was stirring, beginning the day. A small group of sea gulls arrived on the once quiet beach, beginning their daily ritual of beachcombing. Walking rapidly, picking at the seaweed which had washed up on the shore, they were about their business. Just as quickly, they flew away, startled by a scrawny dog; possibly scouting out its first meal of the day. A school of porpoises swam by, splashing in the ocean, squeaking and chirping, greeting in their special way. The beautiful and intelligent creatures bobbed in and out of the water, the sun flickering on their bodies, created a breathtaking sight. This was indeed a coveted and picturesque sight in the Atlantic Ocean.
A sailboat passed. Its colorful flags blowing gently in the mild breeze and those on board waved enthusiastically. I returned the waves and watched as they slowly sailed by. For a few seconds I wished to trade places with them but only to get an appreciation of the island from the ocean. The first of several small motorboats raced by, beginning a day of deep sea fishing. Venturing from the aquamarine waters into the deeper, darker blue water, they appeared a fraction of their actual size in only a few minutes. After a while they were specks against the horizon.
About ten minutes later, getting up from the sandy, I observed young, translucent crabs scurrying along the smooth sandy beach, burrowing into tiny holes and leaving faint trail lines in the sand. Others dove into the shallow water along the shoreline. Small creatures, called sea turkeys, actively crawled about; dodging in and out of the loosely running sand at the water's edge. I strolled along the beach, searching for sea shells. The shoreline was dotted with shells of all types, swept in overnight by the tide. Being the first on the beach that morning, the generous deposit of shells was all mine. Filling a plastic cup with the most beautiful shells; in shades of pink, yellow, white and tan, I headed home, a mere three minute walk.
It was great growing up in The Bahamas, surrounded by such natural beauty and bounty of the Atlantic Ocean. However, the ocean must be respected because of its fury! The beach becomes a scary place when hurricane winds whip across the half mile wide island, as waves crash and pound into sand dunes, trees and the seawall. The ocean comes alive and roars like a wild beast. It is not a tranquil scene as sand flys and the beach becomes displaced, as fish, tossed by the ocean's strong currents, swim for their lives, in the middle of the narrow streets, flooded by the overflow of the sea, where the land is a little above sea level. But of course, that was not the forecast that gorgeous morning. It was more likely to be forecasted as sunny and warm, with a 99% chance of fun in the sun!
I was not a morning person, I had no clue what an island sunrise looked like. Tourists had always declared their awe and reverence for the island sunrise, so as a twenty year old romantic, I wanted to confirm their stories. Could the sun really be that radiant? Was the tranquility of the beach at dawn as majestic? Yes, it truly is! Too often a country's natural resources and beauty are ignored by the locals. So many things are free yet they are not appreciated. Make a date with a Bahamian sunrise; visit a beach at dawn. It's a date you will always remember.
Bright Skies over Bimini
Sun over Bimini
A new day's dawning
Sun over Bimini
The air is warming
Sun over Bimini
Rain clouds are forming
Sun over Bimini
Thunder gives a warning.
Moon over Bimini
So shiny and bright
Moon over Bimini
Lights up the night
Moon over Bimini
A fisherman's delight
Moon over Bimini
What a beautiful sight!
Stars over Bimini
Twinkle and glow
Stars over Bimini
Big Dipper we know
Stars over Bimini
Lined up in a row
Stars over Bimini
Sparkle on the sea below.
Before the Storm
All shapes and sizes,
All colours and hues,
The beach was crowded;
It was a windy day too.
Waves were white capped
With foam everywhere,
A little girl ran screaming
With sand in her hair.
Colorful kites were flying,
So were the sea gulls,
Umbrellas got tossed
The sun's rays seemed dull,
Boys dragged each other
Into the surf
Playing King of the Beach;
Guarding their turf.
The palm fronds were bent
Blowing back,
A lady walked up
With a floral backpack.
She laid out her towel,
Jogged to the water,
In no time at all
A rip current got her!
A man saw her bobbing,
He ran out with his float,
The rescue took a few minutes
Without a Coast Guard's boat.
What a great time was had
At the beach that day,
Until a thunderstorm
Drove everyone away!
The Hurricane
Waves crash on the jagged rocks;
Slapping them with delight.
Foam tips spray into the salty air,
Flying to new heights.
The ocean is alive
It's in an angry mood,
Currents are running rapidly,
They will not be soothed.
Gale force winds begin to blow.
We're heading for trouble, the old folks know.
What's about to happen is not going to be good.
Batten down the hatches; everyone should.
Coconut palms bow as if to say a Japanese hello,
The sun is in hiding and we too must go
Into our homes with lots of hurricane supplies,
From the slats in the shutters we see debris fly.
Bright lights streak across the sky,
Lightning strikes a transformer nearby.
Fireworks like the fourth of July appear;
They don't last long in the angry air.
Oh what weather this hurricane will bring!
The electricity is off, you can't see a thing.
Everyone huddles in the family room
Praying that the hurricane passes soon.
Refreshing Rain
I love the smell of the earth
As the falling rain
Pounds the dry dirt,
As mini puffs of dust
Begin to fly,
Though only for a few inches high.
As the rain drops increase in size
They wash the leaves
They feed the grass
And roll down the gutters
At top speed
As though nothing could stop
Or impede their journey
To the ground and then
Down the street
Or in a puddle
Their journey ends.
Or perhaps
The rain is caught
In a tub or a bucket
To wash one's hair
As in yester-year,
Or held in a storage tank
For use at a later date,
When the piped water flowed
At a snail's rate.
When it rained
And thunder rumbled,
Children sat quietly
In their chairs,
All were told to settle down,
For God was moving furniture,
Upstairs!
Island Winter Wear
When winter comes
And cold winds blow
I get so excited and hope
That my sweaters
And boots
Will get some long awaited
Wintertime use.
I go to the closet,
I get my gear,
My few special pieces
Of winter wear.
I get all dressed up,
I even wear leather
I'm so prepared
For the winter weather.
Alas, by the end of the day
The cold front is gone,
So I put the leather
And sweater away.
Now I sit, in tee shirt and jeans,
Waiting,
For the next cold front
To arrive on the scene.
Seaweeds
Seaweeds drifting in
With the tide,
Where can you go?
Where can you hide?
You float and flop
Around in the sea,
You make me itch
When you bump into me.
Visitors like seaweeds
To Bimini would come.
No one knew for certain
Where they were from.
Seaweeds swept on the beaches
Dry and stay,
Visitors came, settled in,
Never went away.
From the depths of the ocean
Seaweeds are ripped,
Some visitors came to Bimini
Just for one trip.
They enjoyed good seafood;
Conch, lobster and fish,
Getting these treasures
Became their wish.
Life on Bimini was simple,
Slow and sweet,
Human seaweeds got jobs,
Friends and enough to eat.
They enjoyed the island
And all of its spoils,
Now fully transplanted,
In Bimini they toil.
As time passes
The beach will change,
Seaweeds get blown,
Tossed and rearranged.
New seaweeds will come
Just like the visitors,
Everything and everyone
Loves Bimini's shores.
Sea Shell Treasures
While I am asleep
The ocean's strong waves
Bring many treasures;
Pretty shells which I crave.
Early in the morning
Before my parents awake,
I go to the seashore
With my bucket and rake.
My treasures are waiting
I run with lightening speed
To gather beautiful shells,
As many as I could ever need.
The waves are closely listening,
They hear my nighttime prayer.
I ask for pretty shells on the shore
And I always find them there.
Sand dollars, whelks and conch shells,
Many shapes, colours and sizes,
So much fun collecting them,
I make many shell surprises.
Sometimes I find a glass jar
In which to keep my shells,
I scoop up clean white sand
To make a sand bed as well.
With a pretty piece of ribbon
I tie a lovely bow to the jar,
I give it to my mama,
I'm her shell star!
Bird Watching
Early morning near the coconut palm
One red rooster sounded the alarm,
Coo-ca-roo-coo-coo is what he said,
It was time to get up from the bed.
Throughout the day sea gulls fly
Like dive bombers in the sky
Snatching fish from the ocean
With precise swooping motion.
They scream and scream and squawk,
That's the way the sea gulls talk.
Back yard coops are home for them
Pigeons fly away but come home again.
Iridescent feathers around their necks
They coo and strut and peck and peck.
Flamingos are born grey or white,
Eat lots of shrimp and turn a beautiful sight;
Rosy reds, pastel pinks and all shades in between.
Standing on one leg, they create a comical scene!
In the salt marshes of Great Inagua Island they dwell.
As the national bird of The Bahamas, flamingos are swell!
Beautiful birds all around us are our feathered friends,
They love every wonderful day God sends.
Their life in the Bahamas is envied for sure,
No bird could ask for anything more.
Nature's Irony
Birds sing sweetly in the tall pine trees,
Early in the morning the sun's rays tease,
Peeking and poking into windows
Waking up sleepy heads down below.
Crickets chirp and grasshoppers hop,
I run through the grass and then I stop,
I reach down with my jar and a lid
Trying to catch a bumble bee but it hid.
I scoop up caterpillars in my jar
Then the bumble bee chases me far.
I run through the grass at top speed,
A bee sting is something I do not need.
Back in my house, behind the safety of my front door
I can hear the birds singing sweetly, as I had heard before.
This time it is not as inviting as I first thought.
I went out to catch bugs and I was almost caught.
Sea Gulls
Zipping, dipping, flying by
Sea gulls in the island sky
What do they want?
What do you think?
They'll steal your food
Before you can blink!
Gullies flapping overhead in a flock
Leave their home on Turtle Rock,
Venturing over sea and shore
To eat, nibble, eat and eat some more.
Squeak, squawk, chatter and talk
Up and down the shore they walk,
Chasing crumbs and bits of food
So aggressively and oh, so rude!
Solitary sea gull silently sits atop a post
Scanning the beach along the coast,
From his vantage point he will know
Just which way he'll need to go.
Jogging, trotting, running every which way
Little gullies feathered in white, black and gray
Will encircle you for a crumb,
So look out when you see them come.
Fighting each other to take food away
Is how they spend each and everyday.
Fishermen follow gulls in the sea,
Sea gulls know where fish will be,
Gulls want to catch the little fishes.
For fishermen, big fishes are their wishes.
When evening comes and the sun gets low,
Sea gulls know that it's time to go
Back to their home on the rocks, it's fine
To rest and sleep until a new day shines.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Sweet Island Breezes by Collis Sherman Bell. Copyright © 2013 Collis Sherman Bell. Excerpted by permission of iUniverse LLC.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Contents
Preface.................... xi
Acknowledgements.................... xii
Naturally Speaking....................
B.A.H.A.M.A.S.................... 1
Creation of The Bahamas.................... 2
Archipelago of Natural Wonders.................... 3
Bimini is Magnetic.................... 6
The Beach at Dawn.................... 8
Bright Skies over Bimini.................... 11
Before the Storm.................... 12
The Hurricane.................... 13
Refreshing Rain.................... 14
Island Winter Wear.................... 15
Seaweeds.................... 16
Sea Shell Treasures.................... 18
Bird Watching.................... 20
Nature's Irony.................... 21
Sea Gulls.................... 22
When Crabs Walk.................... 24
Watch It Mosquito!.................... 25
Ode to the Hibiscus.................... 26
Mango Watch.................... 28
Coconut Treat.................... 29
Royal Poinciana Tree Aflame.................... 30
Culturally Speaking....................
Sweet Island Breezes.................... 33
Independence Comes.................... 35
Churches in Bimini.................... 38
Sunday Afternoon.................... 39
Island Funeral.................... 41
Sunrise to Sunset.................... 42
Meeting Place.................... 45
Pretty Ricky.................... 47
Tea Party.................... 49
Saturday Matinee Dance.................... 52
All in a School Day.................... 53
Sailing Home.................... 54
Beach Party.................... 58
Fishing Tournament.................... 60
Straw Market Encounter.................... 61
Fishman on Wheels.................... 62
Pucker Up!.................... 63
Relics of Bimini Past.................... 64
Our Wheelbarrow.................... 67
What I Like!.................... 68
Cool Compensation.................... 69
Can You Hear Me Now?.................... 70
Phone Wars.................... 73
Junkanoo Dancer.................... 75
Drumming Up Memories.................... 77
We Love Junkanoo!.................... 80
Stress Reliever.................... 81
Christmas Lights.................... 83
My Bahamian Family....................
Back Then.................... 87
Dots in the Ocean.................... 88
Museum in a Trunk.................... 90
Food Critic.................... 92
Sink or Swim.................... 93
TV Joe.................... 95
Rainy Day Memories.................... 97
That's Just Mammy!.................... 100
Coconut Lumps.................... 102
Fear Factor.................... 104
Mammy Cannot Win!.................... 106
Brothers!.................... 107
My Father's Style.................... 109
When Did I Become My Mama?.................... 111
Empowering....................
Guard Your Future.................... 117
Sista Girl Done Changed.................... 118
On a Wing and a Prayer.................... 120
Raisin' Cain.................... 123
Sereni-Tea.................... 124
Paying It Forward.................... 126
PIF-WIAMAD.................... 129
Grateful.................... 131
Bad Habits.................... 133
Passion.................... 135
The Rooster Caper.................... 137