Dominica is a special place, with nature all around

        Where waterfalls are plentiful, so soothing is their sound

     Massive trees with buttress roots tower up to the sky

        Before spreading out their canopy to shade us from on high

     The forest that surrounds us is every shade of green

        With blossoms adding colour, this is an artist’s dream

     Zel-mouche on the forest floor, heliconia leaves reach up

        Sweet nectar from their splendid flowers, the hummingbirds will sup

     Parrots fly above us, they flit from tree to tree

        Whilst foraging for nuts and fruit, squawking noisily

     Agouties scour the forest floor, rummaging for food

        Whilst manicou sleep in the trees, at night’s when they come good

     Tree lizards are a common sight, they call them Zandoli

        When males stick out their orange bib, that is a sight to see

     Abolos are larger, the ground is their domain

        They like to chase each other, the speed they move’s insane

     Green and grey iguanas, look from a bygone time

        Prehistoric in appearance, on our crops they like to dine

     Whist geckos cream with rounded toes, patrol our walls at night

        Their dark eyes sharp, a moth they spot, then quickly pounce and bite

     Gliding through the undergrowth the grass snake wends its way

        Looking for a cricket or a bug on which to prey

     Boas are enormous and in many trigger fear

        But to us they are quite harmless, that’s the reality

     Herons stalk the rivers, seeking crabs on which to dine.

        Whilst titiwi the shallows climb, thousands in a line

     The cackling that fills the air, a kingfisher is there

        Or that distant note so haunting, from the lonely solitaire

     As the day begins to warm, the frigate birds appear

        Rising on the thermals, circling far and near

     Pelicans glide just offshore, where abound young fish

        Then suddenly they plunge and splash to catch a tasty dish

     Butterflies are all around, to watch them is such fun

        Their wings spread out like solar cells, harvesting the sun

     When perched upon a pretty flower, feeding looks quite hard

        To reach that tasty nectar, their tongues curl out so far

     Sunsets are a wondrous sight, there are no two alike

        Descending o’er the ocean, taking with it our daylight

     When the skyline has no clouds, we look for the green flash

        A golden yellow shrinking spot, turns green, then quick, it’s past

     The sky begins to darken, the birds all go to roost

        To be replaced by flying mice, which also have a use

     Those radar ears of bats detect the sound of tiny wings

        They hoover up mosquitoes, devour those pesky things

     With air so clear the evening sky becomes a glorious sight

        A million stars are there to see, twinkling so bright

     The constellations can be seen, bright is Orion’s belt

        A shooting star, that streak of light, a meteorite doth melt

     A spot of light is moving fast, it is a satellite

     Flashing lights of green and red, a plane is on its way

        Bringing tourists from afar, to enjoy a sunny stay

     When sun and earth and moon align, there is a shadow cast

        The moon blocks out the sunshine, light dims until its past

     Or when the shadow of the earth is cast upon the moon

        In full, its colour changes, just like a red balloon

     The moon above the ocean sends a thousand shards of light

        Reflecting on a rippled sea, the waves they dance so bright

     Then there’s the nighttime chorus, cicadas on the trees

        The crickets chirp and when it rains, the tweet of frogs sounds sweet

     As the night time ebbs away, the cooing doves begin

        Distant roosters start to crow, the birds all start to sing

     The day begins, the sky is clear, the air it feels so fresh,

        It’s time for breakfast, local juice, bananas, pawpaw flesh

     Volcanos are our backbone; their peaks reach up so high

        So many in one tiny spot, earth’s moving plates are why

     Telltale signs are all around, hot springs we so adore

        Tiny bubbles like champagne, rise from the ocean floor

     Clouds of steam are swirling from the churning boiling lake

        Though getting there is quite a hike, it’s an effort all should make

     The scenery is splendid, up slopes, ahead we forge

        Once back we soak our tired limbs, in the Titou Gorge

     At Chaudier the water’s deep, you can high dive from the side

        Or enter from the stream above, on nature’s water slide

     A Malfin circles in the sky, scouting from above

        Its telescopic eyes seek out a lizard or a dove

     The long and winding roads traverse our steep topography

        And from above, that forest cloak makes them so hard to see

     At last we reach a mountain pass, we stop our eyes to feast

        The Caribbean Sea lies west, the Atlantic to the east

     And in between a landscape, of colour bathed in sun

        Our cameras click, we take our snack, the tour has just begun

     As we pass through farmland, the workers can be seen

        Tending crops of pineapple, bananas or dasheen

     Saturday is market day, with fruit and veg piled high

        Round vendor’s stalls the public throng, their groceries to buy

     Sundays is when friends meet up, on a west coast beach

        Or a picnic by the river, there’s always one in easy reach

     The fishermen bring in their catch, into a conch they blow

        That fish is ready to be sold, it lets the locals know

     We see a ferry moving fast, a white tail in its wake

        To Guadeloupe or Martinique, its a trip we like to make

     And in the ocean waters, whales and dolphin play

        A giant turtle comes ashore, in the sand its eggs to lay

     Snorkeling is also fun, the western sea is calm

        It’s like another world down there, the water’s clear and warm

     The western world we left behind, strangers rarely say hello

        Here it’s different, greetings flow, almost everywhere you go

     Your car might have a problem; you stop to see what’s wrong

        Those passing often offer help, its fixed before too long

     In abundance talent flows, in music and the arts

        When Michele sings it always lifts our spirits and our hearts

     Forest scenes are reproduced, on canvas for our walls

        In harmony a choir sings, rejuvenates our souls

     Carnival is always fun for young and old alike

        Steel pans ring out our favourite songs, the music comes alive

     The costumes are amazing, queen contestants lead the way

        We gaze up at stilt walkers, it’s a colourful array

     When Creole time arrives each year, there’s lots to see and do

        Fashion shows, Ms Wob Dwiyet, all in madras costume

     On Creole Day we all dress up, and go to work that way

        Then three nights of live music, go on until next day

     Jazz 'n Creole at Cabrits is a summertime event

        Outdoors in the afternoon, the music’s heaven sent

     Cannons line the ramparts, at this historic fort

        Where in the past the French and English, many battles fought

     Sometimes our lives are threatened by the actions of mankind

        A hurricane approaches, safe shelter we must find

     When it hits the rivers roar, bridges wash away

        Roofs blow off and buildings flood, it’s a course we have to stay

     Once the weather eases, we assess the aftermath

        The damage that we must repair, in the wake of nature’s wrath

     Restoring can be costly, we all must toil and sweat

        We try to help each other, whilst descending into debt

      A year has passed the roads are patched, our power lines restored

        The buildings we repaired are now much stronger than before

     Despite the climate turmoil that the future holds in store

        This paradise is still our home, we couldn’t wish for more

     But then the unexpected, a deadly virus strikes

        The outside world is falling sick, we’ve never known the likes

     Western leaders in a tizz, chasing round like dizzy flies

        Unprepared and ill equipped, the blame game now applies

     Here we had some common sense, our ports were quickly closed

        Strict testing on arrival, and quarantine for most

     Our neighbours acted likewise, but soon became blasé

        Allowing back the cruiseships, now they’re in a bad way

     As I write we flourish still, though patience is the key

        The vaccine roll-out’s going well, so soon we should feel free

     To throw away our facemasks and once again shake hands

        To get a hug from grandma and not avoid our friends

     Our leaders they have acted well, its safety first we know

        Our health is more important, than tourists in Roseau

     For all those wishing from outside, to share our paradise

        A spell in isolation first, they know that is the price

     The time has flown since we moved here, two dozen years ago

        The garden trees we planted, it’s been fun to watch them grow

     So as I write I can reflect, our lives are surely blessed

        Dominica has a special charm, in nature we’re caressed

     This planet that we live on, right now is under threat

        Beyond our shores eternal growth is the trend we must forget

     Our species has to change its ways for our children to survive

        The future’s plan we must construct for our planet to revive

     A billion years of nature’s way made possible mankind

        Diversity’s the key to life, a solution we must find

     To overcome the power, that greed and wealth now wield

        Requires a total reset, some comforts we must yield

     A distant Empire’s in decline, crumbling at the core

        Balance needs to be returned, between the rich and poor

     A construct of financial might, relies on distant wars

        This can only be undone, with democracy restored

     We watch this pantomime play out, as the years roll by

        From our semi isolation, upon the nature isle

     We live our life in harmony, that’s why I pen this rhyme

        Dominica, Eden’s best, is paradise sublime