Dina Aroli

Dina Aroli is the Arabic name given to Mauritius. It means 'Desolate Isle'

Dina Aroli

A heady mix

of Hindu, Muslim,

Tamil and Christian

living, playing and working

together

and buried

next to one another

in the same cemetery.

Respect and tolerance

alive beneath

a tropical sun.

Visceral dance,

Sega, to the intense

sound of the goat skin

covered Ravanne,

beats a crescendo trance,

as a mix of Salsa,

Caribbean Calypso

and the voice

of African slave defiance,

creates a warm cultural milieu.

An identity saturated

in the ownership

of the Creole tongue,

forged on virgin soil

by immigrants,

and nought but immigrants.

The food and music

blended from a spicy

mix of peoples

whose close knit communities

value family ties.

The textures and flavours

of rice, noodles, fresh meats

and fish, seafood, curry,

chapatti and roti,

all washed down

with apera, ti punch,

Green Island Rum,

award winning,

Phoenix pilsner beer,

Bois Cheri or black tea

or Lassi.

Beautiful white beaches,

bright blue shallow lagoons

and mango swamps.

Echo Parakeets,

Weaver Birds,

Mynah Birds,

Zebra Doves,

Pink Pidgeons,

Mauritian Fody,

Curlew,

White Tailed Tropic Birds,

Fruit Bats,

Mongoose,

Wild Pigs,

Java Deer,

Macaque Monkeys,

Telfairs Skink

and Day Geko.

Chazal's Blue Dodo,

the blocks of colour,

edged in black

of Vaco Baissac

and Vrat's women field workers

hang upon white walls.

A Mauritian welcome

beckons all to this island

created before Heaven,

hardly then

a desolate place.

 

15/11/17

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

Amazing use of description my friend John. I want to see and visit this place. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Einstein Noodle]

cool name..nice history sir! and WOW! your passion for this paradise is evident ...really enjoy the fast bullet paced lines .. all explode with noises, colors, and forms ... the rich mix of peoples and cultures ...nice! ... i have not been to this or any island per se .. but thought of New Orleans as i read ... definitely checking out the google of Dina Aroli ... great positive read ..simple ...nothing to decipher ;) and no wonder you choose to write about it..such an irony in the name
E.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

You paint a vivid tropical masterpiece with your exotic imagery in this poem. Lush, exotic colors, sights, scents, tastes, sounds, creatures, abound. The native words trip the tongue teasingly. A mosaic of cultures peacefully interwoven- truly paradise lost- “this island created before heaven”- superb!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Annette it really has taken my heart and the people are so friendly!