Carl –A man of great surprise

To today’s hip-hop generation he may be just another artiste existing in oblivion, but to those who hail from the era of soul music and village block-o’s of the seventies, his name is synonymous with quality Vincentian poetry.

Carl Williams, now an Administrative Cadet in the Ministry of Legal Affairs, is celebrating over thirty years as a poet. His work has attained great heights, having been recited at village block-o-ramas, published in local journals such as NAM Speaks, and popularized by his brother, Ishaka, in Canada. {{more}}

In an exclusive interview with Searchlight, Williams said his talent was discovered at the tender age of 7. He explained that primary school pupils then were flogged if they forgot their poems from the Royal Reader.

“I never got any strap for not remembering a poem”, said Williams. “Since in the days of Collier Jim, since there was this little worn out creature, whose once-bright eyes grew dim. He was the Collier’s only son, they called him little Jim'”, he recited from the Royal Reader.

Asked where he got his inspiration, Williams replied, “This inspiration comes from a whole lot of things. It could be just an experience from riding in a bus, or, maybe I could walk through the market and observe scenes and the poem starts flowing in me”, Williams stated.

Williams said that the same way a man can report on an accident, he can report on that accident through poetry. He said poetry is like talking to people and talking to the world.

Asked how much effort is usually involved in creating a poem, Williams stated, “The first place a poem is written down is in your heart. Then you can take any amount of time to put it on paper. The ideas, the words are always coming from within”.

Asked at what point he is satisfied that a poem is complete, Williams said, “Once you are saying what you want to say. Once you are saying how you feel”.

Asked if he feels his creative work would be well-received in a society which has shown little interest in the arts, Williams stated, “I think people who love poetry will read it. They would be edified, people would be guided, because you are sending a message to tell someone take care, take precaution. Sometimes you hear messages on tv warning against AIDS. In the same way poets can warn about the effects of the society”.

As recent as last year, his poem called “Bleed”, was submitted to the World Poetry Society of America. It reached the finals of the competition and Williams was nominated for Poet of the Year.

Williams’ latest work Never Words Alone, is already sparking interest among poetry lovers.

Never Words Alone

Deeds put the final seal on man

Never words alone can stand

So should a flatterer be

And become so untrue to thee?

Then why should fear now love prevent

My dear you young and innocent

This soul in me can truly boast

Love’s a power and not a force.

And why should I then you coerce

My dear you sincere and beautiful nurse

This bloodless spirit’s wounded in me

My heart, my love, my Natalie.

Now to be our love is meant

My soul, my heart cannot repent

Before your vowing win or lose

Allow your prudent soul to choose.