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