And Sometimes (part 2)

by Delroy Nesta Williams

It isn't often that I write a "part 2" of a poem, in fact i've never done it until now. So this is a first for me. Part One is also on this blog, click here.

Before I ramble on and get lost in thought (as i often do), here is the second part of the poem And Sometimes:

And sometimes, you just miss her but pride makes you too proud to apologize... and before you know it minutes become hours and hours turn into days and I find myself sitting, staring out the window at the world passing by, stuck in this funky daze

And sometimes, it takes a big man to say you’re sorry but an even bigger man to forgive when he’s been wronged, it’s rough on your side but just swallow your pride and know that if it was you, she would do it too

And sometimes, you got to accept the wrong even when you think you’re right and when you think you should stand up tall and stand your ground, you should listen to your heart instead of your ego because at the end of it all, nothing matters more than seeing her smile and that’s something that you know

And sometimes, it isn’t about who’s right or wrong… it’s about doing what’s good to make the love live on… strengthening the bond and moving on… because if she loves you as much as you love her… then it is just a minor hiccup and not a cough, this is just a hump in the road and not a trough

And sometimes, you got to stop focusing on the shoreline when the goal is the horizon… take a leap of faith together and know that she will be there to hold you up just in case you should falter… that’s when you know that she’s the one… the Queen in your life, the Lady that wears your crown…

Giving Up

Giving Up
By Delroy Nesta Williams

I've become the very thing I hate!
A slave to your acceptance
I've had enough of it all
I'm no longer seeking your approval
I'm raging against the machine that you've become...
Or maybe I'm flying the white flag
Yup, that's it, I give up
Been chasing shadows for much too long
You hide in the dark of the night
And still so elusive in the light
Cutting my losses while I can
I'm tired of wishing in the wind
This could very well be a blessing in disguise
So no more compromise
Or turning the other cheek
Sometimes you just gotta accept defeat
Life isn't always what you wish it
Especially if you're always forced to swim upstream
Every day a battle to belong
Takes a toll on the soul
In the long run,
That can break the will of a man
Life has a funny way of teaching you a lesson
But from dust I came, so to dust I shall return!

short short stories

Until recently I had never written one but I am beginning to like them.. short stories so short they are only one paragraph "long" but so well crafted that the can describe a lifetime of events... Here are two (2) of them that I did just last night... Truth is, I was kind of bored and didn't have anything better to do with my time.

The first short story I adopted, edited and remixed from a Facebook post of one of my friends (Michelle Walker, not her real name, lol). She took the quote from a book called the History of Love by Nicole Krauss. 

The second, I wrote to describe a photo that my cousin sent me... She has a photography page on Facebook (JPix) and she usually asks me to write short poems about certain photos. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do:


1. True story: once upon a time there was a boy and he was in love with a girl whose laughter was a question he wanted to answer!!! Whose smile was a rainbow and he chased it to find the pot of gold!!! Whose eyes held a treasure of secrets that he wanted to open!!! Whose arms were so warm that he only wanted to spend the rest of his life in them!!! And they spent forever together. The End.
2. Once upon a time there was a guy who loved a girl but he was too afraid to show her, so instead he hid it. So his love became a cross to carry, an overwhelming burden to bear. Eventually, all he was left with was thoughts of what this love could have been. He stood on the shore with tears in his eyes - watching, wishing - as the object of his affection left the dock in search of her love… The end. 

story no. 2 is inspired by this photo

Check out my other poems for her pics here:

The Hunger Poem
Sixteen (16)

Street Walking

So last night I was feeling bored and depressed and couldn't think so one of my friends suggested that I talk a walk. I went to look at a football game but 15 minutes after I got there the game was done.

So still feeling bored and depressed, I decided to walk through the streets of Roseau. I must reiterate that this is a normal thing for me, although I never really do it when I’m in such a down mood.

Roseau was quiet, as it normally is, with only a few people and vehicles. It was a perfect night for a stroll, or dwivay as we say in créole, except for the cold breeze that seemed to follow me everywhere. I started to think about everything and nothing all at the same time. A million thoughts ran through my mind and in trying to make sense of it all, I started to rhyme. I started to smile too, when I realized that I was creating a poem from my random thoughts. So I took at my blackberry phone, I never leave home without it and started to just jot down my thoughts and arranging them as I walked along the dark streets.

The poem is as much about my thoughts as it is about the streets of Roseau itself... Those of you who know the city at nights may attest to that once you've read the poem. So here it is:

Street Walking

By Delroy Nesta Williams 

Street walking got me thinking,

Got me realizing,
That everything in life isn’t as it seems
And though we may look for the good all around,
Sometimes only the negative can be found...
It's times like these that we need to be strong...
When we feel like our world is crashing down...
When your screams go unheard,
Everyone is busy is their own world...
How can this be my reality?
So much negative encircles my positivity...
Street walking is leading me to this unknown destination,
The beginning of nowhere,
Hope I end up somewhere,
Where my tears of words will find the tissues of ears...
And life begins to make sense again...
My sole request as I make it thru these lonely streets and dark alleys,
That life won't leave me lonely...
That someone will join me along my journey...
To hold me up when I get knocked off my path,
To give me a joke when I need to laugh...
I'll return the favour too cause I know you'll need me soon,
When life tries to upset your mood...
Street walking got me listening to myself and the sound isn't good,
It is like speaking out loud but drowned out in a crowd...
Street walking gave me a chance to exhale,
Now I can breathe freely, inhibitions out of my system,
Putting things in perspective, no longer dejected,
Street walking works and all is not lost...
All is well, out of street walking comes a story to tell

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

Rambling

Rambling

Every now and again I start a poem that I just can't finish so I put them in a pile. I have folders full of pieces of poetry, sometimes I manage to put two or three of them together and they fit so well together and form this magical unit but tonight is not one of those times, lol...

I’m just going to share a few of my ramblings... some about love, I know, I know... as much as I don't want to admit it, love does find itself in a lot of my poems and notes. So here are my latest ramblings:

Rambling No. 1

I just love that girl,
wish I could tell her so
but she's so preoccupied with the world
busy behind the bling and the finer things
clothes, cars and the diamond rings.
she can't see far beyond all that
I’m willing to give her all of my heart
so quick to ride with the biggest baller
she can't even hear me when I holler


Rambling no. 2

I keep looking at your profile pic
looks like you've got the sweetest of lips
I wanna stare deep into your eyes
look within your soul
hold you tightly in my arms when you're cold
I hope I do one day
gives me something to look forward to
dreaming of tomorrow, today

Rambling no. 3

I want my damn rib back

Why you may ask?

Because I’m tired of being under

attack

Men this and men that!

Nobody ever offers us our gift back

I want back what is mine

I may be selfish; I may come off as conceited

But have any women ever said thanks

No, not once

You would think something is due us

That a female would acknowledge the sacrifice

Leading to their very existence

Rambling no. 4

So much promise

But no purpose

Can’t see myself

Far beyond the present

Need a change

An out of body experience

Don’t like the image

Staring at me in the mirror

This sense of isolation

Sunken in sudden depression

You might just see these pieces in future work of mine…

Remember I warned you!

Poetry meet Roseau Market, Roseau Market meet Poetry

The Roseau Market is always a bustling environment of onlookers, buyers and sellers looking for the freshest of quality fruits and vegetables on a Saturday morning in the small city of Roseau.

However on that particular Saturday, there was something "new" at the market place, as the smooth sounds of pan music and poetry elevated above all the hustling and bustling. The Poetry and Book Exchange had been organized as an outreach activity of the Nature Island Literary Festival to expand the audience of the festival in the hopes of drawing larger crowds to the University Centre in Dominica.

The reason I am babbling about the activity on my blog is because I actually performed/read poems from my upcoming book at the market. I did three poems from my first and soon to be released poetry book One Room Shack: The Dominican Gift, These Words and one of my favourites Can I, a piece centered on attracting the opposite sex...

It had been almost a year since my last poetry reading and although I was a bit nervous I did my best and followed that up with a reading at the Literary Festival of The Kalinago Girl... Expect more readings from me soon as I am getting the hang of it... who knows maybe one day you may just catch a video clip of one of my readings on my site...

Be one the look out! Remember you were cautioned, lol... oh and I did walk away with a number of books, had to take part in the book exchange too, but off course!

Images (c) NI Lit Fest

Poetry in de Estate house

The Bath Estate Community Centre played host to some experienced players as well as the new crop of Dominica's poets on Friday June 12th, 2009.

Poetry shows, although still a niche activity, always recieves a receptive and appreciative crowd and from the first poem all indications pointed to a powerful, inspiring show. The Bath Estate Development Committee, through its energetic and powerful Vice Chairwoman, Mrs. Shawna Johnson ensured that all who made the journey on the night were treated to a wonderful display of word power.

With experienced acts and up and coming performers, the blend of of poetry and song, again left the audience wishing for more. Although simple in its set up, the show had a wonderful feel to it even with first time host Delroy Williams (me) dabbing in and out adding a slightly charged comedic aura to the proceedings. This was a welcome site at the Community centre which has seen its activities scaled down over the past few months because of renovation and improvement needs.

At every poetry show that I have attended or participated in, there has always been a surprise and that friday night surely didn't disappointed, instead it surpased expectations giving two suprise acts for a measly EC$2 contribution at the door. Medina Bellot, in her creole poetry, had the crowd locked into her performance, with not only her words but her facial expressions. There is something about the creole language that gets the crowd to really feel the performer and hang on to the every word. Clifton Lewis or Cocoa T, as he is popularly known even displayed his new book (Hidden Words of Love) and gave a powerful rendition of his love poems to the pleasure of the female audience.

Other noteworthy performers included: Reynold Gustave, Harry Sealy, Monelle Alexis and Tamara Lowe who gave an encore performance of her love poem. Songbirds Tasha Peltier, Royette Laurent and Tina Alfred also added a powerful element of love to the show through their singing. Poetry is truly alive in Dominica and its re-emergence as a powerful artform is definitely around the corner. This is especially so if groups like the Bath Estate Development Committee and the National Youth Council continue to give artists the opportunity to showcase their writing talents.

Nesta

Voix Dominique - Poetry Publication

The Dominican Diaspora ning group, through the esteemed leadership of Dominican Diane Corriette, has compiled a poetry publication, amply entitled Voix Dominique - An Anthology of Dominican Poetry.

The call for submissions was made a few months ago and I, along with other members of the online network, submitted two of my poems:

My Dominica (page 13 of 48)

Stuck (page 45 of 58)

There are also a number of other Dominican poets who have contributed to the anthology including:

Susan Edgar

Albert Williams

Kalinago

Ayanda

Panman

Ceasarina Paul

Voix Dominique is a collection of poetry put together by 27 members of the Dominican Diaspora Social Network. The book also contains artwork (including the front cover) created by Dominican Diaspora member Ronald "Baba" Deschamps.

Please feel free to send this book to friends and family or send them the link to this page http://www.uniquelydominican.com/voixdominique/voixdominique09.pdf

To join the Dominican Diaspora Social Network visit
http://www.dominican-diaspora.com/

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