Caribbean Fauna in Oonya Kempadoo's Buxton Spice

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

The Secrets of the Trees

My Spot in Aguadilla - Wilderness

These are the secrets the trees have kept.

A Summer Night on the Cliff

Above us curve the shooting stars
The tree branches surge and swing
The cold gray night smells sweet
We remain unseen
We glow like the beacon in the midst
Our fire fades within its keep
We find ourselves adrift
Abandoned to the whims of circumstance
We knew nothing of what would come
Or where time would take us
Every certainty suddenly drifted out of our reach
We sighed, we talked, we tried to hold on,
We shared all we knew, all we felt
The last summer night under the moons glow

Lovers

The old trees stand crooked across the road.
The early moon rises in the orange sky.
The night soon becomes cold
But the veins are engorged with flames.
A naked body arching its back
In praise perhaps of its form and state
Until in the morning they dissipate.

Once in a Blue Moon

Once in a Blue
Visions of future times
May elite, for those,
Who share their undying souls with us.

Once in a Blue Moon
Secrets of our past we no longer hold
For those, who no longer remain with us.

Once in a Blue Moon
The present becomes
Frozen for a moment, for those,
Who share the night with us.

Once in a Blue Moon
We forget who we are
And all begins to fade away.

Once in a Blue Moon
We are reborn
We become aware
A new perspective we gain.

Personal Experiences with Caribbean Fauna

Do you have any stories to tell?
Do you have any fond memories attached to a particular plant or tree like Oonya Kempadoo?

Feel free to share!

I for one do. One of the reasons why I like Puerto Rico so much is because of the lush landscape that surrounds me. I have many memories to share as much of my own growing up experiences as in my adult life. I also believe that there is something about being around trees that not only relaxes but gives a sense of union to the world. Trees can offer healing, comfort, food and so much more. Perhaps that is why I enjoyed Buxton Spice so much. Like Oonya Kempadoo I feel that trees have kept many secrets. Whomever is fotunate enough to have been bestowed upon such wisdom has earned knowledge that can benefit many more.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Discussion Questions for Buxton Spice

1. Is folk tradition inferior?
2. Does the novel present or re-present a hybrid form?
Referring here to both race and the mixing of orality and print.
3. Does the novel mix Standard English with Creole to make a new identity?
4. Is the passage to maturity a Creole one or is it universal?
5. Is there a psychological need for bonding or is it purely physical?
6. Does the story celebrate or vilify the female experience/voice?
7. Is there a colonial ambivalence present?
Consider the description of the parents and the way they raise their children.
Does the novel speak for or against old rearing traditions?
8. Are women who enjoy themselves “unrespectable”? Why? Is it because of class, race or culture?
9. How is a woman defined? Vs. How is a “ho” defined?
10. How does the book challenge the representation of women? If such is present.
11. Which is the ruling class? Why?
12. Who is at the top of the economic heap? Why?
Note: 11 & 12 are not the same, they imply different things.
13. Why is the tree so important? Why would it be keeping secrets? Can it?
14. Is there a sense of solidarity among the characters?
15. Can the style be called poetics of the oppressed?
For instance in considering post-colonial theory, who would fit best?
Fanon, Said, Spivack, Bhabha, Foucoult, Derrida, or other.

Trees in Mythology, Symbolism and Religion

Nature scenes including trees and forests contain multiple mythic and symbolic qualities. The deep-rooted meaning of trees is apparent in common metaphors such as the Tree of Life and our ancestral heritage depicted in family trees. In Vedic philosophy, wood is viewed as the primal material of the universe. Christians see Christ as the cosmic carpenter and His ultimate sacrifice is represented by a wooden cross. Specific trees in art symbolism also have their own meanings.

Have you ever thought about the meaning of trees?
Do you know the meaning to any of the trees in Oonya Kempadoo's Buxton Spice?

For More Information See:

TREES IN MYTHOLOGY, LEGEND, SYMBOLISM and RELIGION
http://www.ancient-yew.org/treesinmythology.shtml
Essay on the Myth of Trees
http://www.h-net.org/~nilas/trees.html
Trees in Mythology
http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Tr-Wa/Trees-in-Mythology.html
Other Tales of Trees
http://www.spiritoftrees.org/folktales/country/folktales_country.html
Trees and their Meaning
http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/flowers/pcd42.html
Trees and Their Symbols
http://www.photovault.com/Link/Food/PlantsHerbsSymbolism.html
Trees and Symbolism
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Deep-Rooted-Symbolism-of-Trees&id=719424
The Archetypal Symbolism of Trees: Spiritual and Religious Dimensions
http://www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/a/archetypal_symbolism_of_trees_the.html
The Deep-Rooted Symbolism of Trees
http://www.livingartsoriginals.com/infoforests.htm

Do you know where Guyana is?

Guyana, along with Suriname, French Guiana, and Brazil, is one of the four non-Hispanic nations in South America. Guyana's culture is very similar to that of the English-speaking Caribbean, to the extent that Guyana is included and accepted as a Caribbean nation and is a founding member of the Caricom (Caribbean Community) economic bloc and also the home of the Bloc's Headquarters, the CARICOM Secretariat. Its geographical location, its sparsely populated rain forest regions, and its substantial Amerindian population differentiate it from English-speaking Caribbean countries. Its blend of Indo-Guyanese (East Indian) and Afro-Guyanese (African) cultures gives it similarities to Trinidad and distinguishes it from other parts of the Americas. Guyana shares similar interests with the islands in the West Indies, such as food, festive events, music, sports, etc.

For More Information See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guyana