Runner Up... that's ME!

Just found out that I came runner up (2nd place) in a short story competition hosted by Caribbean Intelligence. I submitted "Cricket in the Streets" and I am very proud of this achievement.

To check out the story go to Caribbean Intelligence and to read the story

To read the winning submission, Box, please go here as well.

Pleasant reading.

Nesta

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

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.

You're gonna love me

So many times you go to competitions and shows and you always feel that one of the participants were robbed of a place among the winners or that the winner didnt deserve the accolade. Not so last night at the Arawak House of Culture for the first annual Secondary School lip synch competition.

The competition which was a joint initiative of the National Youth Council and the Mira Entertainment group (Miguel Labadie, Mara Frederick) was a return to the 1980' and 90's when lip synching was a popular activity among the youth of Dominica and by every movement on stage and the crowd reaction, lip synching still has a place within our entertainment needs.

The young persons shined brightly, mimicking their favourite international stars and the variety was really put out there for all to savour. Songs by Michael Jackson, Duane Stephenson, Leona Lewis, Dreamgirls' Jennifer Hudson among others.

Competition was tight but in the end Miss Mahelia Bunche of the Business Training Center walked off with the hearts of the crowd, judges and even her fellow participants as it was all around joy on the stage during the trophy presentation, something you seldom see these days. There was some tears but those were celebratory in nature, coming from the winner who prevailed despite a minor wig incident during her performance and personal struggles over the past year. Her "rendition" of "And I Am Telling You, I'm Not Going Away" also popularly known as "You're Gonna Love Me" from the Dreamgirls soundtrack was just powerful and recieved a standing ovation from the crowd.

All in all, the efforts were well worth it and even though I didnt pay to get in the door, i got my monies worth and alot more. No one came out from the show feeling robbed by the participants, guest performances or judging panel. Well done by all.

There were a few glitches, like the late start, microphone trouble for the MC's and the electricity failure just after the start by the ever-reliable cadet corps musical band but after a delay of about 20 minutes the show never seemed to let down after that.

The only people who got robbed on that night were those absent and all indications point to future lip synch shows of even greater success. The only question that comes to mind, can the performances get any better?

Nest@

two line rhyme

got these two-liners in an email, thought they would make someone laugh, cry or smile.

THESE ARE ENTRIES TO A WASHINGTON POST COMPETITION ASKING FOR A TWO-LINE RHYME WITH THE MOST ROMANTIC FIRST LINE, AND THE LEAST ROMANTIC SECOND LINE:

1. My darling, my lover, my beautiful wife:
Marrying you has screwed up my life.

2. I see your face when I am dreaming.
That's why I always wake up screaming.

3. Kind, intelligent, loving and hot;
This describes everything you are not.

4. Love may be beautiful, love may be bliss,
But I only slept with you 'cause I was pissed.

5. I thought that I could love no other
that is until I met your brother.

6. Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, and so are you.
But the roses are wilting, the violets are dead, the sugar bowl's empty and so is your head.

7. I want to feel your sweet embrace;
But don't take that paper bag off your face.

8. I love your smile, your face, and your eyes
Damn, I'm good at telling lies!

9. My love, you take my breath away.
What have you stepped in to smell this way?

10. My feelings for you no words can tell,
Except for maybe 'Go to hell.'

11. What inspired this amorous rhyme?
Two parts vodka, one part lime.

WHO SAID POETRY IS BORING

Secondary Schools Lip Sync Competition