"His (Mike Marcellino) words incite a sense of dreams embodied by the city (New York):"

The Review Review:
Words embody New York dreams

Here's what The Review Review wrote about "Flatbush" and "Alphabet coffeehouse," poetry songs about New York City, written and recorded by Mike Marcellino.

First in poetry is the work of Mike Marcellino: “Alphabet coffeehouse," “Flatbush”, and “Alexander's Strings." The pieces depict different parts of New York City from its jarring traffic to its more calming fountains. His words incite a sense of dreams embodied by the city: “Flew into New York/ on wings of Peter Pan./Flew into New York/ on wings of Babylon./ Jupiter in the right now/ not as bright,/ on this clear an' quiet night” (Marcellino, “Flatbush”).

Here's the link to read the entire review of the BAP Quarterly's New York City issue.  The Review Review website reviews online magazines.


The Review Review

Bosphorus Art Project Quarterly is an online art journal aimed at bringing international artists and writers together. BAP-Q has a theme for each issue and based on the theme, discusses a wide range of topics including, but not limited to, visual arts, literature, theatre, cinema, aesthetics, and social and cultural studies.PAB Quarterly editor in chief is Jennifer Bal.

Here is the link to BAP Quarterly's New York City issue -

BAP Quarterly

To listen to listen to "Flatbush" and "Alphabet Coffeehouse," Mike's New York City songs from BAP Quarterly and other of Mike's poetry songs here's a link to his music site -

Mike Marcellino on ReverbNation

(There is also a music player with Mike's songs at the stop of his blog, "The Point of the Whole Thing.")

A song of the Haitian spirit in "Flatbush," story of a homeland tragedy

Earthquake and America in Haiti
Saving lives and a nation
by Mike Marcellino

In the aftermath of the earthquake, President Obama is acting swiftly to bring critically needed aid to Haiti.  


But, with this massive natural disaster, the president has inherited a dismal American record in the world's first black republic created by former slaves.  The legacy includes occupation, rejection of  political refugees and neglect in nation building in the world's first black republic, less than 700 miles from Miami.
Haiti lies in ruins with estimates of 250,000 or more dead. 

Does the U. S. and United Nations grasp the enormity of the situation?  After 72 hours without water, food and medical attention, the survivors will start dying, according to experts. In addition to reaching people trapped in rubble in Port-au-Prince, other cities, like coastal town of Jacmel, are isolated as roads have collapsed.  

Military officials have already ruled out air drops of supplies citing concerns of causing chaos and violence, though 10,000 U. S. troops will be in Haiti or off the coast by Monday.



While all human disasters are equally tragic and disturbing, this one hit me personally as I recently spent time living Flatbush, Brooklyn, one of the largest Haitian American communities.

This working and middle class neighborhood is majority West Indian, especially Haitian.  They live in a flat plain founded in the 16th century by the Dutch whose graves remain, though faceless, outside a church filled with Haitians, who still practice voodoo.

Dutch graves in a cemetery outside a church in Flatbush, one of the largest Haitian communities in the U. S. photo by Mike Marcellino



Walking my friends' white dog around the block, going to the supermarket, buying some meat pies, getting to the train station or just wandering, I was struck by the kind, respectful and happy nature of my Haitian neighbors.  I rarely saw another white person, yet never felt like a minority.  


The spirit and nature of Haitians and others from countries like Grenada, Trinidad and Jamaica inspired a song I wrote and recorded simply called "Flatbush."  Now I feel my friends are in trouble and need help.

(If you wish, you may listen to the recording "Flatbush" on the music player on top of this blog) 
 


Haitians will survive, you can feel it.  They have "demele, " a Creole word that means "to manage life in the face of hardship." 


Haitians overcame slavery and founded the world's first black republic in1804.  They have survived dictators, being turned back by the U. S. Navy in their boats seeking political refuge, abject poverty (Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere) and hurricanes.   


The outpouring by the American people and organizations is encouraging.  You can even donate $10 automatically by texting the Red Cross on your cell phone. Folks in Miami are appealing on Facebook for volunteers to load supplies for Haiti.  A benefit concert, "Hope for Haiti," is already planned.

The sight of American troops on the ground in Haiti and a aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson is America at its best.  Will we act quickly enough, or will get bogged down by red tape and the lack of imagination?

This disaster may have a silver lining if it serves as wake up call for the U. S. to stay the course in Haiti.  


The U. S. controlled Haiti for nearly two decades ending in 1934.  Marine Corps commanders governed the provinces.  More than 2,000 Haitians died in a revolt crushed by U. S. forces in 1918.  Marines killed 10 Haitians protesting economic conditions in 1929. 

Before the U. S. departure, a commission appointed by President Hoover, recognized material improvements during the occupation, but pointed out that Haitians were excluded from decision making  in the process.  The commission concluded:
"The social forces that created [instability] still remain--poverty, ignorance, and the lack of a tradition or desire for orderly free government." 


A bad example of helping build a free and prosperous nation.  


The New York Times Friday, published a debate among Haiti experts, "Is the U. S. Doing Enough for Haiti?"  In the article, University of Chicago professor Greg Beckett makes a case for "a long term commitment for durable change."

Beckett, a Harper Fellow in social sciences studying the environmental, urban and political crisis in Port au Prince, further states -

"The U.S. has a long, strained relationship with Haiti, and more than any other country it has a political responsibility to lead efforts to rebuild the country. In the past, the U.S. has occupied and administered Haiti, given support and financial assistance to governments, trained the military, led stabilization missions and shaped economic policy.

"The occupation of 1915-1934 centralized military and political authority in Port-au-Prince, but left little in the form of infrastructural improvement. Economic policies have left Haiti dependent and persistently poor. Aid initiatives have bypassed the government and contributed to the weakening of state and social institutions." 


Today, despite of the United Nations' peace keeping force of 8,000 troops and the presence of 10,000 humanitarian workers, Haitian mothers still commonly make "dirt cookies" for their children to eat. They can't afford food.

Yet, the Haitian spirit endures.  Haitians still pound shape beautiful metal art from recycled steel drums. Now they wonder whether any buyers will be able to reach them in the devastation.   


When the Marines open the roads again, let's hope the United States gets nation building in Haiti right this time.

The fate of rebuilding Haiti lies with America's first president of color.  But for now President Obama has a more pressing question to answer.  The Marines have landed in Haiti and they are asking, "Who's in charge." (source, Christian Science Monitor, Jan, 14, 2010)



copyright Mike Marcellino 2010

"Flatbush," a song of Brooklyn

Stones of Dutch soldiers, Flatbush

photo by mike marcellino copyright 2009

 

Flatbush

by mike marcellino

Flew into New York

on the wings of Peter Pan.

Flew into New York

on the wings of Babylon.

A perfect trip, eleven minutes late.

Coastal Jersey the same,

belching chemicals and oil,

industrial desolation

in the boot deep down.

Flew into New York

on the wings of Peter Pan.

Flew into New York

on the wings of Babylon.

On the heels of Jupiter,

not a bad act to follow

on the right a Santa Anna’s

banner,

lighter green an' red, white

tricolor,

blazoned to the fire escape

of a third floor, dirty red brick

tenement,

a place of West Indians,

Flatbush,

a perfect spot for Jimmy Cliff.

Mariachi band fills the air

Saturdays.

Flew into New York

on the wings of Peter Pan.

Flew into New York

on the wings of Babylon.

Soft good mornings in English,

more likely Patois

from darkened skins

standin' outside temples

ol' ladies an' gentlemen

takin’ numbers outside

for dinner

in a church

a redemption,

after

a revolution

into

a resurrection.

  

Flew into New York

on the wings of Peter Pan.

Flew into New York

on the wings of Babylon.

Walkin' on grave stones

a 17th Century soldiers'

worn blank

in this once 

'Vlacke bos'

Dutch land plain.

Flew into New York

on the wings of Peter Pan.

Flew into New York

on the wings of Babylon.

Jupiter on the right now,

not as bright

on this clear

and quiet night.

Flatbush,copyright by mike marcellino 2009

You may listen to the recording of "Flatbush" by folk band Mike Marcellino on our ReverbNation music site or on the music box at the top of this blog.

ReverbNation 

Flatbush, a new poem

Flatbush

by mike marcellino



Flew into New York
on wings of Peter Pan.
Flew into New York
on wings of Babylon.
Perfect trip, eleven minutes late.
Coastal Jersey the same,
belchin’ chemicals and oil -
industrial desolation
in the boot of this deep down.


Flew into New York
on wings of Peter Pan.
Flew into New York
on wings of Babylon.
On the heels of Jupiter,
not a bad act to follow
on the right a
Santa Anna’s banner,
lighter green an' red, white
tricolor
blazoned to the fire escape
of a third floor dirty red brick
tenement, a place the West Indians
call Flat Bush,
perfect spot for Jimmy Cliff.
Mariachi music filled the air
all Saturday.

Flew into New York
on wings of Peter Pan.
Flew into New York
on wings of Babylon.
Soft good mornings in English,
more likely Patois
darkened skins
standin' outside temples
ol' ladies an' gentlemen
takin’ numbers for dinner
in a church
outside
a
redemption,
after
a
revolution
into
a
resurrection.


Flew into New York
on the wings of Peter Pan.
Flew into New York
on the wings of Babylon.
Walkin on graves a stone
17th Century soldiers'
worn blank
in this once 'Vlacke bos'
Dutchland flat plain.


Flew into New York
on the wings of Peter Pan.
Flew into New York
on the wings of Babylon.
Jupiter on the right now
not as bright,
on this clear
an’ quiet night.




Wings of Babylon copyright by mike marcellino 2009