Storyteller Ita Gooden named poet of 2012

By Poppy Brady

UK VOICE



Talented storyteller and comic Ita Gooden has her own Olympic role to play after being chosen from scores of contenders to become one of The 12 Poets of 2012.



The qualified nurse and midwife from Birmingham helped to write some of the lines that form the poem ‘Breathe’ which is now showcased inside the Olympic Park, being read daily by thousands of visitors.



Backed by the National Lottery, the poem was created to highlight the marriage of sport and culture during the UK’s 2012 celebrations.



But being of Jamaican origin, Ita, who is also a successful performer under the stage name Miss Culture Jam, could not resist writing some poetry of her own for her Jamaican athletic heroes.



Ita was one of the most popular acts at the recent cultural extravaganza held at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall to celebrate Jamaica’s 50th anniversary of independence and official salute to the Jamaican Olympic team who had been staying in Birmingham.



She has passed on some of these verses to the team and hopes they will give them inspiration in the tough days ahead.



“I wanted to write something that recognised the talent we have in the Jamaican team, and also to write a separate poem for Usain as he has such an inspirational role to play,” explained Ita, who has been writing since she was a child growing up in Clarendon.



JAH (Jamaican Athletic Heroes)



You are the Jamaican Athletic Heroes

All stars shining bright

A spectacular moment and magnificent sight.

The moment has come, the oment is right

From Jamaica’s sprinting factory you transcend

Titles to gain titles to defend

Do you ting right

Those medals are in sight!



You are the dream team with hunger and desire

Your lifelong goals burning inside like a living fire.

Jamaica presents nothing but the best

A tangible cut above the rest

With medals on your mind

No grater team you will find.

In your radiant colours of black, green and gold

The great Olympic story will unfold.



You are the Jamaican motto

‘out of many one people’

boasting a pool of fast genes higher than a steeple.

For the dedication, determination and sacrifice

It’s time to roll that winning dice.

As each fibre of your inner being

Screams faster, swifter, higher, stronger!

Believe in your destiny for great things

Strongly entwined like the Olympic rings.



You are the Lightning, you are the Beast

You are VCB and you are the Grasshopper,

Not forgetting the Singer and many others.

Being Jamaicans means it’s you all running things

Sprinting is your business

You are Jamaica’s best

Passing the qualifying test.

No injury, no false start

To tug on the strings of Jamaican hearts.



Team members outside track and field events

You winning place you must cement.



Your thirst and determination to win

Upon this all Jamaican hope is pinned

Be ignited like the flame of the Olympic torch

As one torch ignites another

So your baton must be passed to each other

In your relay this must be your state of play

On that great Olympic day.



Salute to you all



JAH!



editorial@gleanerjm.com