Something About Nesta

by Delroy Nesta Williams


There something about me
That I can't put my finger on
I'm hoping that you can tell me
Release me of this mystery
That keeps me up at night
I can't seem to get things right
I talk a good talk
But when I'm around her
I mess up all my words
I get so damn nervous
And hours later
When I'm all alone
I figure out all the right things I wanted to say
And every sentence that she uttered
Stayed etched in my brain
And plays over and over, like a gospel refrain
Honestly, she has the most beautiful of smiles
Formed by those beauty-full lips
That sometimes part ways
To let out that simple giggle
The one that makes me weak in the knees
She has that twinkle in her eyes when she speaks
She calls me all kind of names
Babes, luv, boy, and even bae
But I prefer when she raises her voice
And shouts Delroy Nesta Williams
Then I know to drop everything that I'm doing
And give her my full attention
Because nothing is as important
As giving her my everything
But her silence can also be as deafening
Like when she doesn't say anything
For hours at a time
Especially when I need her cool confidence to soothe my wondering mind
She's like love music blowing in the wind
On a rainy, cold night
She's the new moon's light
That eastern village that welcomes the sunrise
The beach that greets the low tide's wave
She just knows what to say
And exactly when I need to hear it
"Do I have to be spelled out?" she asked,
Sensing that I needed the reassurance
She's always giving off that allure
And if there's something wonderfully different about Nesta
Know that it is her!

Untitled and Unfinished

Just like the title of the work, this poem will remain untitled and unfinished... because I wish it so:

Untitled and Unfinished

I miss our midnight phone calls

Those private conversations

That always put me to bed

You knew just what to say

I remember every word too

The ability of my mind

To retain your words

Every pronunciation

Yes, every enunciation

Still etched in my brain

The sound of your voice

As the cold wind blew

Through the trees outside my window

The ability of your mind

So great, so sublime

Knowing just what to say

Calming my ruffled nerves

Getting me to see things beyond myself

The world through your eyes

This is all gone, here and now

all I do is twist and turn

Can’t even lay down my head

Or close my eyes

For, I see your face

I hear your voice

You haunt my nights

Like howling ghosts

Harrowing at me with such guile

That my neck hairs stand up with pride

At full attention

Unwarranted celebrations

The independence that I wanted

So dependent on your presence

I’ve made a mistake

I know it now

But this ego of mine

Won’t let me apologize

So I continue to bear this agony

Sleepless nights, helpless days

I accept it as fact

But won’t sound the words

That you were my better half

So incomplete that I malfunction... (to be continued... maybe)

Free Expressions coming your way

I've taken another step in ensuring that my company Free Expressions Poetry Company actually sees the light of day. The company logo has been developed and all is in place for a successful 2009 and beyond.

Our first project, the joint venture with the National Youth Council (NYCD), is going on smoothly. The love poem competition and Many Moods of Love show was a huge success in February and the second phase of the activity; the collection of love poems is in development with the final book expected to be launched at the General Assembly of the NYCD in Castle Bruce during the summer.

Free Expressions is currently working on its first play which should be out before the end of the year. The writers are feverishly perfecting the storyline and main plot and the aptly titled "Beff Stop" should be a smash hit with much talk of dvd production for distribution outside of Dominica.

A second play which targets youth and HIV/AIDS; with members of Dramatic Expressions is also expected to be completed in 2009.

Nesta

Many Moods of My Love: Beyond Comparison

The young, up and coming poets of Dominica put on a show to remember last night at the Alliance Francaise before an appreciative crowd. Poetry writing in the island state has been a underground activity and finally some persons where able to showcase their writing abilities because of the National Youth Council and Free Expressions Poetry Company initiative.

There were a number of memorable moments and despite no PA system, the show had a real romantic feeling with cupids, hearts, balloons and other decorative pieces setting the perfect ambiance for the performance of love poems.

I can still hear the laughter, cheer and finger snapping of the crowd as they were wooed by the competitors, guest poets and especially during the open mic. Ameka Cognet's delivery of Silent Words for My Valentine and Delroy Williams' plea "Can I?" were clear crowd pleasers.

Poetry, if promoted properly, surely has a place within the small performing arts world in Dominca and all should be done to harness the talents and writing skills of the emerging generation of young poets and story tellers.

The show, however, was to display the works from the competition, The Next Great Love Poem, and Kamarsha Sylvester won with her piece Beyond Comparison, with Ameka Cognet's Silent Words for My Valentine in second place and Lien Philogene's Expression's of Love taking third place.

So here is the piece from Miss Sylvester, winner of the Competition:

BEYOND COMPARISON

You’re the sun baby; you surpass the others by far
For you’re way brighter than any ordinary star
As a matter of fact, they could never be on par
Cuz you’re like a Rolls Royce amongst the Hondas
If you were a plant, you’d be a black rose
Rare and precious like pure gold
And if you were a farm, you’d be the Garden of Eden
For you’re so perfect, man you’re God-given
It’s said that there are Seven Wonders of the World but I’ve proven them wrong
For there’s actually eight, and baby you’re number one
And if you were music, you’d be soul
The only genre that forms part of mans whole
You’re like a beautiful dove in the company of pigeons
As a result it’s impossible for you to blend in
For you’re way superior, ooh you’re a perfect ten
Unequalled, incomparable, mmm, mmm, mmm that’s my man!

I was hoping she was talking about me but it wasnt so...

Nest@