If music be the food of love,
Your contribution, like a dove,
Created heights among all Guyanese,
Paramount, yet peaceful above the
soughing coconut trees
A century has passed, however your
works live on
Pundits of the art-form claim you won
Your birth date of February 12th.
nineteen nineteen
Rebounds in 2019, like a canon supreme
Your ability, inspiration and vision to toil
A true daughter of New Amsterdam soil
To every man, woman, girl and boy
You brought melodic fruits of lasting joy
We will always remember your musical slate
Yes! We pause to hail and celebrate
Your masterpieces, the renowned
“O Beautiful Guyana”
“Arise Guyana” and your famed “Kanaima.”
Extreme melodic creations and originality
Captured the heart of your niece Cicely;
and Oh! So many
As crotchets and quavers brought
syncopation
Demonstrating patriotism and calm to
our nation
Your opus soothing like a breath of fresh air
Your renditions, still nurtures our atmosphere
Your great brilliance and nimbleness of mind
Punctuated melodious patterns, one of a kind
Accomplishments dedication with a
unique chart
Charmed by the spirit of your noble heart
Both harmonic and melodic cravings to dance
Left indelible imprints of scholarly prance
Licentiate of the Royal College of Music in 78’
Versatility in Jazz, patriotic and classical
music was great
Heartfelt motivation, rendition after
rendition
Brought us solace, composition after
composition
Composer, extraordinaire and grand maestro
Names associated for the genius, virtuoso
Your African traditions of imaginative
proficiency
Were inherited and launched by your
Kemetic musical aristocracy
Difficult as poetic lyrics seem to appear
Your grace and unique style did never wear
— By Edgar Henry
and then