Beauty Lies In Sight

Words by Christena Williams

Magazine | Issue 03


In the quiet hum of dawn's first light,

Beauty dances to the tambourine

 In the morning's sight

In dew-kissed petals and hibiscus,

Blooming bright,

A gentle whisper of natures delight,

Surprise and might.

 

The sun’s golden fingers softly caress,

Every blade of green grass, each leaf, no less,

In the Mento of symphony of a hummingbird's sweet song 

Beauty weaves a sunny melody, pure and strong.

 

The laughter of joyfully children, carefree and wild

Reflects the magnificent of a heart unbound,

In stranger's marigold smile, in eyes that glisten and shine,

Nature and people unfurl in connections divine.

 

In Portmore city streets where chaos strives and thrives,

Amidst the rush and bustle of minibus,

Loud blazing dancehall music

People waiting impatiently,

While loader men shouting

And pushing others on to the bus

That is where beauty lives and survives.

 

Along the concrete walls, plastered with graffiti of Bob Marley,

Ninja man, Beenie Man, Super Cat, Bounty killer,..

A masterpiece of ingenuity,

A celebration of art and black liberation

It is a reminder that beauty reigns supreme.

 

In rain-soaked pavements, and overflow of gullies

High sewage and homeless people

Vendor’s sweet talking passerby just for a sale

Nice aroma of Julie and East Indian mangoes

Serenading nostrils and taste buds

Dogs barking at every car rushing by

The sun is blazing extremely hot.

 

But to glare and even peek at the sky

In tired bodies, occupied minds

And wrinkled face of passerby

Everyday things, unnoticed by most

Holds a beauty that cannot be lost

So let us slow down, pause, and truly see,

The mystery that surrounds you and me

In each second and moment,

In every little thing,

Beauty’s grace forever sings.

The Jamaican poet Christena Williams, better known by her stage name of Antonia Valaire was a Nominee in the 39th International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) Spoken word. She is a native from Portmore and her Alma mater is Spanish Town high school. Valaire has won the International Spoken Word Artist from the People of Extraordinary Talent (P.O.E.T), USA, for which she retained in 2021. As a podcaster of The Verandah Conversations she was nominated in Best radio, or online show, by (P.O.E.T), 2022 and 2023.

Valaire has a BA degree with Honors in History and Philosophy from the University of the West Indies. Her book “Pearls among Stones” won the Prime Minister’s National Youth Award. She is also the author of “Black Gold” and “Out from Babylon System: Liberation of Mind.”

In addition to writing, Valaire has performed on the Jamaican Poets School Tour, Bridgewater International Poetry festival virtual (USA), Submitted video to Ronda Leiria Poetry (Portugal), featured in The Gleaner, Poetry NZ 47 (New Zealand), and Shortlisted in Desmond O’Grady poetry (Ireland), & Matches shoes box was included in the Miss Lou 100 +Voices, (Jamaica). Additionally, she represented Jamaica at The Marché de la Poésie in France