Break the Silence - help our children

Break the Silence
By Delroy Nesta Williams

You commit murder when you keep silent
Every time you see injustice and don’t speak
When you know that your little girl
Is forced to rock on a grown man’s cock
But you turn a blind eye
And pretend not to see
Because the man brings in the pay check
And pays for your hair and your nails
So instead you pave the way to your daughter’s grave
When you pretend to not hear the screams
Or notice that every night he leaves your bed
And goes into the next bedroom instead
You know what’s going on
But you prefer to play dumb
You’re just perpetuating the crime
Adding grime to the slime
Just because you think you can’t get another man
So you give him the upper hand
Even if it means that your flesh and blood
Is covered in his stench and her own blood
Because he forced her hymen,
Her body isn’t prepared for the private parts of grown men.
But you gotta have the fancy dresses
And flaunt to all your family and friends
While your daughter rots inside
Her soul fading away to its end
You’re just as guilty as the man
How can you look into his eyes
Tell yourself that you love him
And allow him to rape your kin
So while he stains the youthful days of your child
You add insult to injury
How do you look into her eyes
And not see the pain
How can you see her soul
And not recognize the stains
That his filthy touch has left
If you won’t protect yourself
At least protect your blood
How can you allow this go on?
This isn’t what was meant
By turning the other cheek
Ordering your daughter to be submissive and meek
So you commit the murder of your very own daughter
Killing her soul by the minute and the hour
Death isn’t only when breath leaves your corpse
Death is when you turn a blind eye
And show the one you should love
That her peace of mind, you sold and he bought…

One Room Shack: A review of Delroy Williams’ poetry publication

A few months ago, I had a professional but small media debate with a Dominican columnist, Ian Jackson, about his article in the Sun newspaper entitled ‘Our Youths Simply do not care’. It became intense during a radio talk show where I even requested a recant from the columnist and an official apology t

o the youth of the island. Off course, he didn’t apologize, I wouldn’t have apologized either. But I made the appeal anyway. Now to get to the point, about a month ago I went to his place of work, the St. Mary’s Academy, to provide him a copy of my book One Room Shack. It is my debut publication and I asked him to do a review for his popular column. I was hoping that he would be professional and he proved to me that he indeed was. Let me say, that I had already had other discussions with him since our radio debate so we had already buried the hatchet, well whatever hatchet there could have been since I didn’t take anything that was said between the two of us personally but instead as two strong-willed individuals who had strong but opposing points. Below, is a verbatim of the column as appeared in the Sun, a few days after my book launch, perfect timing if you ask me.

The Review:

The title of this latest poetry collection is interesting; one could say even it’s an oxymoron as Delroy ‘Nesta’ Williams goes way beyond the confines of his One Room Shack to reflect, dream and even question rhetoric or philosophical in content, unveiling the rich potential of the youth leader.

Sometimes he admits being stuck not knowing “which direction to take” in life’s trials. He cries out in words from his soul even while admitting his “burden is mine alone to bear, but I’ll carry it with pride.” He searches for self, identity, love and meaning; he cries for love; he surmises that he ‘wished I coulda make it right’; or to the ‘Untitled’ he concluded that ‘maybe one day, when I’m old and gray, I’ll comprehend”.

Nesta is introspective and deep in his writings and sees a poem even in innate objects as the eye of a “Teddy Bear” who listens to his every complaint. He’s “never one to judge or caste blame” or make demands as others he once loved so dearly in his life.

Nesta’s ‘One Room Shack’ cries out for a listening ear, not just for his own sentiments but for the youths whose father have failed. “Sons slipping beyond rescue now mother cries… while father hides”. Indeed this is a reflection of our own failings as a society to be examples and be there for our sons, in particular.

In Nesta’s own words he craves a “time of seclusion” but wants to stand out; he wants his moment, to shine, “an opportunity to stand out”. Isn’t this the dream of every youth who picks up a musical instrument, goes on stage to perform, or engages in study or some vacation?

Ironically the poet acknowledges some uncertain but wants to “congregate” and be “invisible in the crowd blending in among the mob” in which he finds comfort. For amongst his peers the fears subside. He laments in ‘Tears’ which has been exhausted because there seems to be no more left to quench the desert of pain he feels inside.

“Life can be so cruel” expresses Delroy Nesta Williams; he says so many times we walk away in defeat when victory was moments within our grasp. Nesta can be direct or metaphorical as in dreams where “aspirations washed away by worldly erosion”. Deep stuff for a debut publication.

Nesta is one of Dominica’s youth who once headed the NYC and this seems to be an extension of his work in representing their thoughts, dreams and aspirations, in search of warmth, love, comfort, still elusive to the travelling man”. He finds solace, redemption in his ‘One Room Shack’ at least it’s a place where he feels safe, wanted, belonged.

The title of this collection is so appropriate; as I read through the pages I see it as a representation of physical living conditions of thousands of Caribbean poor families who want to escape win its borders but still find comfort in its confines, for after all home is home; it’s not necessarily a house.

Nesta’s ‘One Room Shack’ is full of contradictions. In his smile there are tears or in his deliberate approach as he evokes imagery and challenges a society to unravel and provide answers to the many of the questions that is tied up in his poetry.

Though an English publication, in ‘De Dominican Gift’ the poet explores the use of dialect in a commentary on the political issues of the day from ‘red, blue and green’ angles. Satirically, he concludes that all this melee and rift “is truly Dominican gift”.

Delroy ‘Nesta’ Williams debut poetry is self published just as many of us who started on this road to put our thoughts to paper. His writing talent goes beyond poetry; he was the 2^nd place winner of the Independence Short Story competition.

He dedicates the compilation in honour of his mother. Support him; it’s good work.

Note:
Ian Jackson is an established writer who has published numerous books of poetry and prose. He regularly contributes articles on various aspects of Dominican culture to local newspapers and other publications. His most recent publication is the book entitled “Lyrics and Melody: 50 years of calypso, 30 years of Independence”. Ian is also a popular calypso artist known as the Black Starliner.

I have the newspaper article posted on the wall of my bedroom as inspiration to continue writing... Thanks Ian...

Elesha is a writer too

This week I'm featuring a poem from my long, lost cousin Elesha Kelian George (Faustin). I came across her poem/note when I was browsing through Facebook... yes, I'm a Facebook junkie... a minimum of three to four hours a day too.

Now to get back to my cousin, I didn't even know she writes at all, my family has a way of keeping their talents locked up in a closet... especially my sister Ezra George, who I must admit is even more talented than i am, she just needs to take some time to construct her thoughts.

Well to get back to my cousin, here is her poem/note:

You're Just Not Good Enough

Who am I today a vagrant gone astray
Maybe an angel on the good days
Am I black or am I white today?
A thousand back lashes screaming you're Just Not Good Enough either way!

Is my nose too wide, my hair too tough
My feet's too big and hands too rough
Is it that I'm Just Not Good Enough??

Being loved, feels like I'm hated
On those dark days not even affiliated
The ones who's suppose 2 care
Can't even be there...
Won't play their part
Unaffected by the fact that they played your heart...Just Not Good Enough to be a part of their selfish pipe dreams
That they hold so close to their heart
Pushing you farther apart with the notion that you're Just Not Good Enough!

To be in their life
To be their dreams
Not Even Good Enough to be in their schemes!??
Wonder girl or I wonder girl??
That this life did a number on you
Tried to make a number out of you
One more addition to the statistics of being Just Not Good Enough...

With life being a choice and death being a decision,
Like Wizzy said I guess I gotta make a decision!
To live like the angel that I envisioned
Or to be part of your trapped vision
Its time to rid myself of u, circumcision
Refused to be tied to the lies that I'm Just Not Good Enough!

This day I'll Be More Than Enough
My unattainable dreams as you so refer them will not be handcuffed
Your thoughts or image of me and who you think I should or shouldn't be
That decision was never up to you
And now I know better!

I'm sitting here having a break through
You'd see me grinning and can't figure out why, after you've tried to
Erase the crises of the corner of my smile, I still smile!!
My chalk white teeth blinding
Like a thousand suns, the ones you tried to burn!!

(Ahahahahahahaha) x2

I start laughing hysterically at the thought that you thought you could wipe away my joy! Peace of mind and serenity!!
You're looking at me wide eyes, going crazy!!
Don't you know that you can't burn the sun!??

The sun will shrivel you to nothing
Like the nothing you made me feel
All these years and I used all those tears to OUSTED your fire!
And heat up my burning desire to live
And live FREE of you and what you made me out to be!
A liar! A thief! A killer and drug dealer
I was bitter as HELL just where you wanted me too be!
But I overthrew Hell's fury over your ills of me!
The pain melted away!
Because hell's fire is HOT!!!
And I felt the heat all the life you wanted for me!

But I'm to blessed to stay in this mess
Heaven sent I am, the redeemer of your past and the psychic of your future
I was not meant to be at the bottom of the food chain
I am beast with brains..a MONSTER!
I am to be feared loved and respected
Not something you can stand on but someone you can stand along with
Through the hours of the day and horrors of the night
I am like a Phoenix!
I burn then I RISE!

Written by: Yours Truly
Elesha Kelian George a.k.a Elapop

Copyright ***

Click here for more of her notes/poems

New poem; Ghetto Yout Song

Just finished this poem and wanted to share it as soon as I was done... do enjoy

Ghetto Yout Song

I mean no disrespect

But wat de fuck do you expect?

Dis is de truth

An nothin’ but de truth

Tings jus too damn hard for de youts

Went to de bank to take a loan

De officer ah watch me up and down,

Like I come tief at his home.

Jus tell me I cyah get de money

Instead of pretending every ting nice

Dis not no land of milk and honey.

How dis poor ghetto yout

Ah get collateral, ah get land paper?

De man gimme de run around,

De system send me a rob an tief,

Cuz I tell him a Pound mi born

Ah Roseau me come from.

Where de bed of roses?

So nothing for de poor, black yout?

Best I tief a ting for true,

Sell a pack or two.

Is dat de system ah send me to do.

There’s anger in my voice,

Cuz I doh have a damn choice

Dey pushing me against de wall,

All I can do is scream an bawl

Hoping someone will hear my call.

Someone, come to my rescue

Lead me from dis place, so destitute.

Is not like I want to commit a crime

But dere might jus come a time,

When that’s all I can see

As my way outta dis misery.

I need to help myself,

Somebody tell me what’s next

What should I expect?

When all I want is some real respect!!!

ONE ROOM SHACK released

PRESS RELEASE

ONE ROOM SHACK, the debut poetry publication from Delroy Nesta Williams, comes from a special place, his heart. And within his heart is a myriad of issues and ideas that were egging to get out. One Room Shack can be described in one short phrase, simply special. Special not only because it is the first book from the author but also as a dedication to the “mothers” that have influenced Nesta’s life.

The poems address various issues including poverty, failure, personal struggle, “faith and hope… but the greatest of these is love.”

Mr. Williams is the Immediate Past President of the National Youth Council and by all accounts an advocate for various youth issues, some of which come through clearly through his poetry. He attributes his love of poetry and writing from an early exposure during his high school years at the Dominica Grammar School and his interest in creative arts.

ONE ROOM SHACK contains poems and thoughts that all can comprehend and take as words of discovery, wisdom, comfort, warmth and inspiration. The book also signals a transitional and developmental stage in his writing and personal life as well. We encourage you to share in the moment and make it your own.

FREE EXPRESSIONS POETRY COMPANY is proud to release this publication, ONE ROOM SHACK, Delroy Nesta Williams’ labour of love to the World…

For additional information please contact:

FREE EXPRESSIONS POETRY COMPANY

56 LIME STREET, BATH ESTATE

ROSEAU

COMMONWEALTH OF DOMINICA

cini26@hotmail.com

1 (767) 615 5881

My First Poetry Publication... One Room Shack

My First Poetry Publication... One Room Shack will be available from next Tuesday August 02nd 2011 at a cost of XCD10.00.

One Room Shack is a reference to my humble beginnings and illustrates my challenging childhood. One Room Shack contains poems of love, hurt, poverty, inspiration, faith and love of country and people.

For more information please contact me at:

Free Expressions Production Company

56 Lime Street, Bath Estate

Roseau,

Commonwealth of Dominica

cini26@hotmail.com

1 (767) 225 6367/615 5881.

Raw Poetry; De Dominican Gift

I was speaking to my neighbour yesterday and talking to him about poetry, he is also a poet, and he said something to me that resonated and influenced my latest poem (wrote it last night). He said a poet must reflect his society and should also be able to speak for the people and about the people. In plain english, a poet should be part and parcel of his community.

So i got to thinking about my country and the hot issues of the day and this poem just glided out of the tip of my pen, off course i had to go back a few times and edit and realign the verses and so forth but i hope the final product does justice and speaks from the Dominican perspective. I also used a lot of Dominican lingo, not really the french styled creole, just our broken english.

So here it is:

De Dominican Gift
By Delroy “Nesta” Williams

Society in a rift,
Blue say is borboll
While red convince is a gift.
So much debate about de bin purchase
And who truly benefit,
Look I hear is campaign money dat trafficking,
An’ me neighbour say cocaine money dey laundering.
But as garbage bin knock down
Look fertilizer issue jump in de boxing ring,
But de poor farmer man, he eh talking
Cuz he love de handout ting.
Yes, de man love de "salt"
An’ he eh care who at fault,
Rubbish bin or fertilizer doh matter to him,
Or if de Big Man wrongly profiting
As long as is de Labour Party dat winning.

Now, Blue looking confident
But inside dey panicking,
An all de rest, dey afraid and shaking
Cuz dey know de PM cunning an’ convincing,
Too much psychology an’ philosophy.
De likle man eh understanding,
Dat wrong is wrong.
Yes, all borboll is borboll,
Whether red, blue or green
In de end is Dominica dat losing.

I cyah wait eh
For de next borboll to expose.
Yes, Boy everyday I listening.
Every morning I tune to Q,
To dat radio station, I man glue
From de moment I rise
Is Matt in de morning
An Saturday, between Me and You.
Till Election Day come and pass,
Then we go see who really win de race
And who come dead lass.

I doh care who win or lose,
Cuz it clear dey all de same
Doing de same damn ting
An one accusing de oda of cheating
But de sad thing is eh,
Dem poor people always along for de ride
Only seeing blue, green an’ red.
Boy, dey really colour mad or colour blind.
I waiting for de election meley
As society continue de rift,
Yes, dat is truly de Dominican gift…

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@

Love poems anyone?

Valentine's day is just around the corner and love is in the air. I haven't written a love poem in a while but now I'm being encouraged to do so because the National Youth Council of Dominica and Free Expressions Poetry Company are launching a poetry competition and show dubbed "The Next Great Love Poem."

The competition is open to poets/writers between the ages of 13-35 who are resident or nationals of Dominica. Although the competition is centred around Valentine's day, it is not limited to just romance but entails heartbreak, friendship, parental, spiritual and other forms of love.

The call for poems has a deadline of January 31st and a panel of Judges will select the ten best poems. After the selection process, the Many Moods of Love show will be put on by the Council on February 15th, 2009 at the Alliance Francaise de la Dominique on Elmshall Road.

The show is also expected to feature other Dominican poets, dancers, singers as well. So here i am now scurrying my brain for the perfect love poem, it has to be an original piece off course, no room for plagarism and all entries must be sent to the Council at email: nyc_dom@hotmail.com or at the office: 15 Bath Road, Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica (next to the Newtown Savannah.