When you think of it…

As a woman of those days
You’d better be well equipped by nature
(and by your God)
to sustain the worst economic times of our history,
when there was only salt to suck
when men had to leave
and go away to find a living and send back some money
From the refinery or the cane field                                                                                                                  In Aruba or in Santo Domingo

When you think of it

when husband, brother or son had to leave
and go far away in a world war
just because it was perceived as duty,
When governments,
local, less regional and even less national
cared less of you
for you were only burden to them

As a woman of those days
you’d better be well equipped by nature
(and by your God)

When you think of it

For you had to find food for the children…
and the sheep and goats and fowls were essentials
and the banana, the corn and the lime tree had to bear
and the children had to go to school,
after carrying water for animals and humans.
they went french school and sunday school
Because that would offer more strenght
to breack the social glass ceiling of race and class

When you think of it

And it is the women of those days
so well equipped by nature
(and by their God)
that are the initiators
of this nation in the making
for they have lived long…
So they know life!

When you think of it

They’ve known good times and bad times
They’ve known and survived the worst wars
They’ve known 28 gale and Dona Gale
They’ve known the worst dry weathers and the deadliest floods
They’ve known and enjoyed the best that nature can give
They’ve known the ponum dance and « high society parties »
They’ve known jollifications fo’ so
And they have transmitted that state of mind,
That tomorrow is another day to do better…optimism
That neighbours and friends are essential to survival…solidarity
and that nature always has a lesson for us… common sense.

When you think of it