Our Twin Islands Poem by Sookdeo Manansingh

Separated by the atlantic ocean
yet we are united under the same one law
The mountains on the northern range
act as a shield to dismiss any storm it meets
overlooking the caroni plains
the flat surface can be seen as a carpet
to connect between north and south

The caroni river cuts the island into two parts
as further down south the three sisters
still holds the footprints of Columbus
who remains a legend with his image
cast on the rocks sitting on the shore

What great richness nature has gifted us with
a beautiful pitch lake continuously growing
black gold from underneath the surface of the earth
The natural beauty of the island's shape
makes us unique to look at
from the center of the moon


The two volcanoes on the island
looks like chimneys from under the blue sky
with the poui trees blossoming in spring
you could tell from the golden flowers
how happy the birds and butterflies
enjoy the happiness of being in this space
Along the buccoo reef on the edge of the ocean
sits the colored weeds with patterns
amazing to see through the naked eyes

The arrows from the sugarcane fields
all colored white blends with the mist
just before dawn to make it look like snow
Like candlelights on every street
the dewdrops on the leaves
glitter with the glow from the moon

When the water from the mountain races
towards the valley below it looks like
sheets dye with yellow paint
between the trees and rows of sand
formed with giant hands unmatched
to any machine
From east to west the tall coconut trees
with its pure fruit matches with
the pebbles of stones sitting on the boundaries
all around

With the sister island carrying the crown
of all the jewels we are fortunate to share
we do not build castles for the world to see
but has an abundance of wealth
to feed every citizen by the inheritance
of our parents who toiled the estate
all but for free

The natural beauty of our islands
makes tourists from all over the world
wants to visit here even just for a glimpse
Imagine what it's like to see the corals
and the different species of fishes
united together and all the colorful
landscapes intertwined between
the sunbeams forming a mirror
of the sky upon the earth

With time and climate change
soon our original beauty will fade
and man in his own quest of greed
will remove the lovely space
that was occupied by the aboriginal
carib and arawaks who have all been
outnumbered by the immigrants
whom are moving fast
to create cities on their own.