Claire Baptiste

Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies

Claire lives in the Caribbean. From a career as Asst. VP Personnel, Training and Public Affairs with an International Bank, she now exports her Designer Clothing label-"Clairevonne". Her poems are published in 7 anthologies. Editors Choice Awards in 'After the Storms', "Best Poems of 1996" and 'Best Poems of the 90's'; also on cassittes 'Sound of Poetry' from Natinal Library of Poetry. Currently she's editing a novel to be published. Claire serves the poor through Feel and is a student of the School of Philosophy. She says: Always listen to the Word of God and serve his Will not yours.


Miss Nay Nay

Miss Nay Nay opened closed gates and allowed
grace and love to find and change our ways.
Yet in her manner there was pride,
there was prejudice, but her patience spoke throughout the day.
In her desire to have her way
Miss Nay Nay taught the meaning of forgiveness.
And with it, the mirror of humility,
and the face we hide behind the mask.

But it took that wonderful soul-not of human form,
to show the true meaning of love.
Miss Nay Nay saved the family from destruction,
from a life of blind struggle, with her peaceful dove.
We learnt every choice in life must be based on love,
within our shadows we must seek the truth,
and allow love, to over-flow the vessel of the body,
to touch the loves of friends and foes.

She did not know of her powers over us,
that her feline life was a gift from God.
Our little angel of love bridged the gap between
three adopted homes and sewed them up with love.
After eighteen years, Miss Nay Nay has gone to rest
her message of forgiveness is no longer a threat.
With hearts of love, desires and problems are slain
and with hearts of love, the family is re-born again.

The Spirit Dwells with the Land

There's a music in the land,
a rhythm within its soul
And a freedom that comes from the heart.

The dance of nature
beats to the drums of a voice
That is the spirit of the land.

The islanders
The multi-coloured flowers of the island
Shares in its wonders with abundance of faith.

For the music
is the eyes that sees
And ears that listen to the teacher in the stillness.

The voice says,
"Share all your gifts and talents freely,
Don't be afraid, I'll provide all you need."

"In times of troubles smile with glee
Use the obstacles of life as stepping stones
And, the path to truth will be revealed."

The music raises up, and sings even louder to the world,
The land rejoices with plenty of love
For the Spirit dwells within land.


All poems Copyright © 1997 Claire Baptiste. All rights reserved.