My mother comes from South Trinidad. So I asked her if she knew about Mahal. She said that everybody knew Mahal. So I asked her if he was crazy to run all that distance, day in day out. She said the thing was that Mahal, his sister and his brother had seen somebody murdered and were called as witnesses in the case. But somebody put obeah on them. So when Mahal came into court before the judge all he could do is throw in a gear and run out the door. His sister could only sit down and run the cloth through the Singer sewing machine, and his brother could only keep picking the cocoa.

Hi all,

Thank you for the comments regarding 'MAHAL'. Bear in mind, that I myself never actually saw Mahal but over the course of my childhood and into my early adulthood the stories told to me about him took on legendary proportions. I have to thank John Stewart for his very vivid description of 'Mahal' for it was based on that description that I developed the graphic image. MAHAL is one of series of poems I am doing about denizens of the street that have added so much colour to our lives.

My mother used to tell me about Mahal. I remain fascinated. Colorful characters like Mahal, his sister the seamstress, and his brother who picked cocoa all the livelong day remind me of all that I love and miss most about home. I suspect it is an entire extended family doing anything we want them to do all day long. Only in Trinidad! You do a fine job immortalizing this legendary figure!

Thanks for fixing the graphic! I wonder whether anyone still remembers the story about why Mahal was compelled to drive his car from North to South and all over Trinidad every day. And whatever happened to his sister who had to sit at a Singer Sewing Machine and continue to sew all day, every day? Crick Crack Monkey.

I was so pleased to see the poem on Mahal. I have such fond memories of him. But you need to do something about the graphic that obliterates most of the text.

Your online news letter was forwarded to me. I read it in great detail. I was indeed theilled by the fact that Black History Month wil be multiplied by 12 as it should be.
Count me in, I want to be informed as to what is happening and maybe in some way participate.

Hello Yvonne,

Thank you for your wonderful comments. We will look into this concern and try to correct the error.

Hope you are well! Thank you for the *warm* wishes!
Shana

Hi, Brilliant once more! But I could not read most of MAHAL, which I thank Sandy for, as only a few days ago, I wondered if his life story would ever be chronicled in any form. The graphic is covering half of the text, I am sure you would not mind reducing or relocating it. Thank you!
Bundle up and think of the warmth down here
Fond regards, Yvonne