She’s a mere 146 miles long and about 51 miles wide
An island washed by the Caribbean Sea, a standout beauty tide-to-tide

She’s the jewel of the Caribbean, a little piece of paradise
Let it be known, her impact on the world far outweighs her tiny size

First the Spanish then the English sought to colonize
Her children—resistance fighters—battled for African heritage kept alive

Defiant—likkle but tallawah—refusing to be renamed
She bears her indigenous name—Xaymaca—Jamaica, land reclaimed

Among first of the Caribbean isles to dismiss the colonial power
Today she stands strong and proud, 61 years freedom tower

From freedom fighter, Nanny of the Maroons to pan-Africanist Marcus Garvey
Her people fought always for independence as their inherent right to be

From food to music to athletics and innovations
Best rest assured, if it’s irie, it’s got some Jamaican connections

The first tropical country at Winter Olympics with the Cool Runnings bobsled team
She’s even the first English-speaking Caribbean country qualifier with her male and female soccer teams

In the world of track and field—this is where she simply “JAminates”
Athletic superstars from Merlene Ottey to Usain Bolt—Olympics she dominates

She produces the world’s best coffee for drinking and even for singing
Koffee, the only woman and youngest person Grammy awarded—what a Rapture she is being

She razzle-dazzles taste buds with food, boonoonoonoos good
And, finger-licking meat jerked spicy-hot on wood

Her rich musical heritage from mento to dancehall
She hails chart toppers from Bob Marley to Millie Small

She will not be outdone in serving rum or giving praises
Guinness World Record holder—most bars per square mile right along with the most churches

In the sphere of innovation, there’s much to emphasize
She’s influenced nation building in those ten times her “likkle” size

In the Western Hemisphere, she built the first iron bridge and railroad
And the AT&T telephone system, from her technology they borrowed

Her flag bears no common color with those in the American flag
She speaks a rhythmic dialect, tribute to African heritage she brags

In only 61 years her legacy she stamped everywhere
‘Cause no matter where you roam, the black-green-and-gold will be there

For high privilege and responsibility of independence reigned
For nationhood, on this her 61st year, we give thanks for freedom gained

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Happy 61st Independence to me likkle-big country—JAH-mek-yah 🇯🇲 Jamaica

2023 All rights reserved
Music: Bob Marley and the Wailers

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In creative solidarity, Dee