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Written By Javanna Cumberbatch
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Peeking through the blinds of a window that was dusty

But only on the outside, as we lived near a busy faded street

Looking out to see a world that we were not too familiar with

Concealed neatly just as our pearled necklaces in their long boxes

Red ribbons, with clear white bubbles to hold our hair up

Short red pants paired with a red shirt trimmed with white

On its breast screen printed words that read Day Spring Academy

Little brown feet that stepped into

Little black Clarks with enough space for fingers to press the tip

Ran on private ground that was paid for

The only white coat we knew in person belonged to a dentist

Whose face was adorned with the addition of wire frames

White and gray hairs reaching out and then reclining back on your scalp

He tolerated us willingly, lovingly, allowed us to stay

My gratitude for your kindness was never expressed

For I was too young to be grateful

Too young to care, understand, or appreciate

You blessed three little girls of color

And valued their mother, a loyal worker for years

Dinosaur floss, green, yellow, dark blue

A coat of many colors

White foam placed in a soft pink mouth guard

To cushion and whiten your teeth

Airy like cotton candy

Miniature bubblegum mouth wash

Fun size toothbrushes

Fruit and animal stickers

I remember

Hard silver plastic rings like the ones we used to get

From the gumball machines in Sandy’s

I confess, I did take one or two of your

Silver coins from out that big green box

The one that was never locked

I’m sorry

A smile that revealed white teeth with pink gums

A white skirt just below two knees

White shoes that covered sheer white stockings

Your hair roller set

With big pink cylinders, the ones with twenty holes in them

I counted

Releasing them from your strands one by one

Stroking them lightly to the front and then the back with

a goody brush and comb

She went out every day

Whatever you wish I will bring

But here you must stay

Soft colors were her preference

A knitted yellow dress sleeveless at times

When she wasn’t at work, she flipped through clothing catalogs

Leaving us in the white car to pick up her orders

A little girl going up to the glass door knocking

While her siblings stayed inside

To see what was taking her so long

Kids jumping on mommy’s back as she bent over the bed praying

Reading, reciting, singing

Amazing grace

We are older now

Our morals are instilled

Javanna Cumberbatch

(She/her) Javanna Cumberbatch is a product of a baby blue pillowcase stuffed with cotton. Lovingly. she was sheltered as a child, rather protected so that her morals, the things instilled from TBN and PBS Kids to name a few, remained intact. She was cradled with the soft still voice of her mother, and serenaded by songs sung. From her own lips at times.

The moments that she was let loose, was somewhere safe. The second home of her mother’s mother. An island ‘2 miles long by half mile wide.’ ‘Each square inch filled with pride.’ Whose waters ‘sparkle like a jewel in the sun’ to this day. Line fishing with a friend near the dock. Times cherished and long gone, but never forgotten.

She went to her first Junkanoo at the age of 21, but she was not unfamiliar with the sounds of cowbells, and the families that went for battle on Bay Street. ‘Gimme My Culture.’ The land of my home always giving. Sapodillas and mango trees everywhere you turned. A garden truly. Separated islands and cays, but under one name we pledge our allegiance. A real place. Protected and covered by grace. In its natural state it shall remain. The Bahamas.

Javanna is a student now at The University of The Bahamas. Afforded the opportunity to attend. Amongst other things she is a woman of few words spoken, but a young lady of many words written.

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