A new collection of poetry in print and in spoken word on a CD was launched last night at the House of Culture. But don't expect to hear about Grandmaster, River of Fire, or Erwin X - the perpetually prominent poets are not heading this list of fresh young talent. In fact, these are all first timers, high schoolers who have been a part of the Poets R Us show. The show has emerged as a clearing house and blazing ground for some of the most vital voices in Belizean poetry. 7NEWS was at last night's launch for a listen to Belize's crop of new poets.
Kendise Williams, Poem - 'I dah Aids'
"I dah Aids.
I dah the most complicated and the most
deadliest of all.
You betta listen you know or else you will have a downfall.
I sneak into homes.
I destroy lives ha ha ha.
I dah Aids but when you look pon it I really noh wah see innocent people fall inna mi trap.
I dih beg unu use your plastic wrap, protect yourself and each other
Don't pass me on.
Remember there's no cure.
Better be safe than sorry 'cause inna fi unu life, unu want me fi carry.
I dah Aids."
From Kendise Williams' sobering reality check on the plague of her generation to Jamie Yearwood's lament on his "torn roots."
Jamie Yearwood, Poem - "Torn Roots"
"Deep from the bottom of the box emerges
black man brought a country of hardship
Diluted into a society known to the Rastas as Babylon.
Fighting with each other is what we result in as those white sophisticated watch us and laugh
Taking us for clown
Who the hell do they take us for?
Who the [expletive] do they take us for?
Excuse my language but I'm from the streets, the streets of Babylon."
And Kalila Enriquez's search for something beyond the black and blue.
Kalila Enriquez, - Poem - "Black and Blue"
"I try to find you
I close my eyes
I ponder and thought
Its useless
I am weary
I pray that you will shone your light so that things may be just a little bit bright
With all you unfold to me, its an imprint filled with shades of black and blue."
The issues are current, the words intense, and the works are the creative genius of Belize's crop of young poets - all available on this season one book and accompanying CD from the Poets R Us show. The poets included in the collection are mostly high school students who for 2 years worked under a man who knows a thing or too about poems - Leroy 'The Grandmaster' Young. The Grandmaster emceed last night's launch.
Leroy "Grandmaster" Young,
"Today is about the students that have been through this program for the past two and a half years. Today is their day."
And the young poets celebrated the launch doing more signing than rhyming in the company of Education Minister Francis Fonseca, Taiwanese Ambassador Charles Tsai, and NICH President Yasser Musa. Tonight however was the easy part for these students who found more than just an open mic at poets R Us - they found themselves.
Leroy "Grandmaster" Young,
"Our first show we had about three people. The second show we had about 10 and the thing grew and grew and grew until it came to a point where I said I have to tighten my belt because they are looking to knock me out of business. That is how good they are."
Lita Krohn, House of Culture
"They come with a piece of paper, their poems, sincere hearts and they proclaim, they recite, and they dramatize whatever is on their minds."
And now you can read their minds or hear their thoughts through their lyrics on the collection.
The book and CD are now available in stores. The Poets R Us show resumes on September 15th at the House of Culture.
7NEWS produced for broadcast by News Director Jules Vasquez
Edited and Prepared for the internet by Keith Swift
