By Edgar Henry

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
VALERIE RODWAY

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

Few musicians would compose music to poetry, a surreal art
With splendor you enchanted the words of Daly, Carter, Seymour, and Wishart.

Rhythms placed to iambic, trochee and blank verse with finesse
Free style creativity, your stamp of profoundness
Hard work, embodied with some acute pain
Left us a legacy of national acclaim

You respected and profess chords of unity
From Indigenous peoples to the six races for solidarity

Large choirs belching their innate valves
Through tutelage of students at music festivals

Hoping that your angelic company with spreading wings
Is being enjoyed with your contemporary Lynette Dolphin

Additionally, Walter Mac A. Lawrence, Harper Smith, Ramcharitar-Lalla and Chinapen
Nostalgic reconciliations of comfort in heaven

Your work as majestic as the Great Kaeiteur
We crave, desire and yearn for more

As educator, composer and patriot
You did accomplish and produce quite a lot

Kudos and thanks to your trainers, teachers and mentor
Winifred McDavid, Edna Jordan, Eleanor Kerry and Ruby McGregor

“Hymn for Guyana’s Children” and “Guyana the Free” to name a few
Captured the cultural essence of simply those two

Bells from Brickdam and St. Georges’ houses of worship
Reverberate and echo resonance of kinship

Your centenary blessings are astute
Your GCA 2002 NY McAndrew Award, we salute

You portray Guyana as great and free
A lovely native land of glory, hope, love and unity

You recognized our hinterland, the land of many waters and the Pakarimas
Your music displayed our flora, the fauna and the Mighty Rorima

As we assemble your musical archival compositions
We etch your name alongside the greats, in our museums

Majesty, glory and honor will reign
Ensuring your work will not be in vain

As we commemorate, celebrate and remember
We revitalize and sustain your living endeavor

Gone with the angels but not forgotten
Voices and instruments reverb verbatim

Your efforts and masterful gift and art
Undoubtedly captivated many a Guyanese heart

We honor your passion and glorious humility
Coupled with enormous love, generosity and dignity

The insightful and unselfish talent of Valerie Rodway
Caused excellence and ecstasy that lives on today.

If music be the food of love
Right On…. Valerie….Write On….

Ends