Written piece
Love’s Power
Stefan Gravesande
Guyana
About this piece
This poem was written during my intern year in Cuba, and in it, I personify Guyana as a woman who is waking up to discover who she really is. Through love, fight, and unity, her children become one people, one nation.
Twelve eyes look to the virgin princess,
Her green dress with its threelong beautiful stripes,
Permanently wet.
Her golden hair sways,
Cool tropical breeze and rains caress her face,
Whilst she stares to the ocean.
Six voices woo her with their history,
Each fussing, fighting and fighting for an equal chance,
Huh...Time passes,
The children of the first cleave to her,
They find sustenance in her bosom,
She adopts them as her own,
And they love her as Mother.
A love so strong,
That it breaks down the castle walls,
And yes! She is free,
Free to be who she wants to be,
Herself.
With her own identity,
With the ones she loves,
With the ones who love her.
Now they are one.
Now, we are one. We are one.
One people. One nation. One Destiny.