The Island Today: Montserrat Nice

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Montserrat Nice (Arrow)

Montserrat Nice

‘It’s rebuilding time
All Montserratians abroad

Nobody go run me / Way from me country
Here me go stay ’til kingdom come
Sometimes she shake and rumble / Act up now and then
But paradise go settle down again

I love every hill and gully / Every ghaut, stream and valley
She’s still my Emerald City / Montserrat nice, nice, nice

Despite the danger / We held our fort together
So you have a place to come back to
How could you desert / Paradise on Earth
Montserratians don’t know what this land is worth

I love every hill and gully / Every ghaut stream and valley
She’s still my emerald city / Montserrat nice nice nice

Still nice, Oye
Still paradise, Aye
Still nice’

– Extract from Song 'Montserrat Nice' by Arrow

The Cudjoe Head Festival celebrates the diverse background and rich culture of Montserrat. Credit: Karen Pascal / MVO. Date: 04/08/2012

Nice

‘Montserrat nice
still paradise
in spite of the fall
of the tall mountain –
if you are fixed with wings
like angels;
and there are saving graces:
the isle is full of noises
from ancient drums of masquerade
and the constant din
of battle over british aid
the list of shortages
is shorter now;
and you can readily access
toilet paper from the not so friendly
wharf in allied antigua;
carols and calypsoes compete
in dead heat for the king;
babies are born to provide us
with more mouths to feed
and more books hard to read;
politicians still get elected via ballot;
words wound and kill
but they are not exactly bullets.