Bajan Conkies

When November comes to the door
Zesty conkies we share;
Sweet and mighty strong with essence;
A Bajan dish set square.

Pumpkin alone will never do;
Mix, corn, coconut fair,
With potato, sugar and spice;
Cook on square leaves with care.

Conkies wrapped in banana leaves
Do pass the plate with cheer,
To friends but satellites of none;
Great cheese-on-bread is there.

Stacked independently on plate
Conkies banana wear;
Housed in jacket uniquely ours
We stacked on table-wear;

Skilled fingers cut those leaves to strap
From stalk, with sharp hard-wear;
Laboring these souls toil each day,
In cane-fields near Foursquare;

Conkies wrapped in banana leaves
Do pass the plate with cheer,
To friends but satellites of none;
Great cheese-on-bread is there.

Now fifty years reached this nation
Standing tall with prayer;
A new Barbados to behold
Amid great strife elsewhere;

The Broken Trident hugs our shores
Flying here and elsewhere;
We give thanks to God Almighty
And share the earthenware.

Conkies wrapped in banana leaves
Do pass the plate with cheer,
To friends but satellites of none;
Great cheese-on-bread is there.

©Paterika Hengreaves