Re: Mervyn Maciel's Poem at the age of 14

Dear Hazel,

CC: All Copied on email re Above.

Greetings to you dear Hazel, and 'Thank You' for your post re Mervyn's poem. It is always a pleasure hearing from you, responding to posts shared with our members. You also wrote about  S.S. Somali & More (Hazel & Mervyn) in your previous post.

THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR BEING IN THE FOREFRONT WITH YOUR ALL-ROUND POSTS of interest to all our folks.

I have saved your message on your blogspot always available for friends to read.

Best regards, Benny

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Dear Ben
Just as I was thinking all was TOO QUIET on the East Side You came up with this amazing story. I have correspnded directly with you Mervyn Maciel but did not know this detail How terribly tragic.. a reminder that there is a higher Power, a Greater Purpose and anothers Indescribable Life beyond Our Wildet dreams and Imaginations.

This story makes me stronger, as I now have almost a full year as a widow and face my children who live their first Christmas without their Dad. We also mourned the loss of Joe de Lord, Chicot Vaz, Cousins and Aunties in Toronto so many other friends- and my Cousin Dr Armando Menezes only last week funeral in Barnsley UK

This time of the year always takes me right back to my parents..and Zanzibar.. that first amazing journey across the Indian Ocean that my Dad had taken before 1928-38 but my Mom had just made once right after their wedding Karachi 1938.. Just before WW11.. As it turned my sister and I stayed over for 2 years Mom had Desnond Baby number 5 born in Karachi Dad returned to Zanzibar.. and we were all reunited only 2 years later DEC 18 1948.. and went straight from the BI Boat to GI Christmas Tree Party ! 

Aug 14 1947 We witnessed the birth of the New Islamic State of Pakistan N I S O P separated from Th Rest of India - which has shrunk considereably since then
It was all done by The Very same Lord Balfour Commission - who also saw the birth of a New Jewish State of Israel N J S O I separated from The Rest of the Middle East!

Now that I live and am an American in the USA Pearl Harbor Dec 7 is noted..and more robustly as is the Bombing of Hirroshima dn Nagasaki..
That whole sad saga of "human brotherhood" gone wrong.. for hundreds of years..fighting in every nation every island every continent.. Will change come ?
It will !
I say with absolute certainty ! Yes it will.

Yes it is because I played marbles with Benito and won a couple from time to time.. when I was about 10 years old.. I say Yes for sure..! I can win a little of something some time.

"Those children" Maciel , Benito, .myself and millions of others now aged 83 85 90 97 have to really look at Dick Van Dyke 100 today and I know for sure Dance away with Mary Poppins ! and or the Chimney sweeps !!

Yes "there's a feeling of Christmas" in the Air, at Sea under the warm blankets when the tempertaues dip to Zero Farenheit as they did last week as I drove to daily Morning Mass.. Wow that was a sight it went from my Garage showing 27 F to 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2.. 1F
Only once before in the 50 years here in New England did I see ZERO on my automobile dashboard .. I wondered then if the car had stopped as it was past midnight a few years ago what would I do? Sheer panick gripped me - but it did not stop and I got home and into my garage.

We do spend much time wondering "what if".. never more that when December 1963 came upon us.. after DEC 9 1961 Tanganyika and October 9 1962 Uganda Dec 12 1963..Kenya our last Christmas in Zanzibar.

Now I remember fondly how I actually was taken to that last GI dance by a couple of the young men who came to my house from the GI next door and insisted I go to the dance ! Much to the amazement of my parents no doubt (already in bed by then) I got dressed in five minutes and left.! and Here we are Dec 13..2025.. what might have been, or could have, or should have and never happened - does not matter .

What we all know for sure that "Soon it will be Christmas Day" December 22 it will be just a few minutes longer Daylight time..The LIGHT of the World Sunlight glowing longer after in the Winter's Solstice.

I was born in the Vernal Solstice 6 hours Day 6 Hours Night right on the Equator a harbinger of Springytime

The light of all sons put together makes for reality truly spectacular. .More Beautiful than mere sunshine ever could!

So I am Wishing you all, a Blessed holy Happy Prayerful Season now till February 1 -.

That is the date Bosco left us one year ago . then on to CandleMass Day Mardi Gras and the next season. ..

Hazel.
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On Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 11:11:26 AM EST, Benito De Souza <benny@benitodesouza.com> wrote:

Dear Mervyn,
Shared with your Global friends & family Members.

Mervyn Maciel's Poem at the age of 14

Please Click on the link below to view post.
https://mervynmaciel.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_72.html

Best Regards - Benny