On of Thursday evening, November 30th, the day that officially ended the 2017 hurricane season, the Malliouhanna Poetry Competition Committee staged an event at the Anguilla Public Library to highlight the relating of experiences during and after Hurricane Irma. Renditions for the night took the form of poetry, story-telling, writings, home -grown comedy and song.
This post-Irma event was dubbed An Extempo Evening, and the night’s proceedings were chaired by the jovial, humorous personality , Mr. Colin Johnson.
Several expressive persons went before the appreciative audience to describe their experiences of the storm, and to tell their respective stories of plight, loss, fear and even humor. Persons including Anita Martin Ruan, Vanessa Croft, Omari Banks, James Harrigan, Sheldon John, Alexis Ryan, Tangiera Huggins, Queen “B” shared touching experiences that won’t be easily forgotten any time soon.
While all the items were interesting and intriguing, The Anguillian has singled one poem, written and presented by the talented, community-minded, Alexis Ryan. His piece, called “Ten Things I Realized After Irma”, is as follows:
One – In a moment you could lose everything.
Two- a hurricane can unearth ulterior motives,
For even in a crisis can people still look to profit.
Three – Electricity is no longer a necessity when you are hungry
And have no place to lay your head.
Four – A locked door doesn’t always represent security,
Especially when it is lying in pieces after losing a fair fight with the wind.
Five – Sometimes I think we take the fact that we are alive for granted.
Six – Some people can try to trick the red Cross, but they can never trick Mother Nature.
Six – Even in a disaster can our foolish pride exist— relief is relief regardless.
Especially when the store shelves are being emptied.
Seven – When I saw fresh foods and vegetables arriving in Anguilla
For the first time after the storm I thought I was in heaven.
Seven – I really think I need to plant a garden.
Eight – I know the statistics are late but just for your information officially there were:
One in Anguilla; Four in BVI; Four in St Thomas; Ten in Cuba; Twelve in St Martin,
Not to be confused with St Maarten where they’re still counting.
Nine – You’re fine. In a moment you could have lost everything but you didn’t.
Let that sink in.
Ten – Again, I say you are fine, as you are not a casualty of Irma’s war — her destruction.
So stop complaining and live, give, love, smell the roses, hug those family members,
Eat the cake, wear the garment, and give thanks to the creator for you are here.
Some people didn’t have this privilege.
Such items of poetic display are staged annually by the Malliouhanna Poetry Competition Committee, usually in early May. The events are organized by the University of the West Indies in collaboration with the Anguilla Library Services, the Anguilla Community College and the Department of Youth and Culture.
