'Best Overall Writer' Sharon Williams-Brown receives her trophy from Sydney Bartley, principal director in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. - Contributed
The top writers in the 2009 Jamaica Creative Writing Competition organised by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) were awarded at a ceremony held at the Rex Nettleford Hall on November 5.
Poet Sharon Williams-Brown was announced the Best Overall Writer ahead of 40 awardees and more than 300 entrants islandwide. Williams-Brown topped the medals table with her works 'Ol' Firestick' and 'The Unfolding', receiving two gold medals and a trophy as well as a printer-copier machine courtesy of Advanced Integrated Systems.
42 medals
Other major awards included Most Outstanding Writer, which was copped by Malachi Smith, Special Writer, won by Christine Marshall, Noteworthy Writer which was presented to Joy Campbell, while Choice Writer, went to Haneefah Seid, Julene Vanhorne, Shane Shaw, Sharon Hare and Verone Johnson in a tie. A total of 10 gold medals, 15 silver and 17 bronze medals were presented across the categories of poems, short stories, novels and plays.
Today, we showcase some of the poems which won gold in the competition. See more on the winners next Sunday.
I have opened up to you
Like a flower to the sun
And how I have enjoyed the
unfolding;
For a flower was meant to
bloom
Not stay a bud.
So when I think that we might
part
I know the petals would stay
closed,
For there is only one sun
And neither moon nor stars
Can give enough light
To make this flower unfold
again.
- Sharon Williams-Brown, Kingston and St Andrew (Adult)
Ol' firestick
My love for you is like a fire
which still burns
Though years have intervened
And several 'flames' have
come and gone,
For when they've died
The embers which remain
Are those ignited by your
love.
Be yourself
People come and people go,
Total strangers and people you
know,
People who try to be
themselves,
And people who die trying to
be someone else.
I know in life there will
always be,
People worse and better than
me,
So I'll not try to be another
man,
Instead I'll be the best I can.
I'll do my own thing and so
should you,
And always to yourself be
true,
When you are you, your
confidence will soar,
And people around you will
respect you more.
Everyone has strong points
and flaws we all share,
Nurture those talents, as they
are so dear,
And as for the flaws, improve
what you can,
And those that seem
unchangeable, keep working on.
You can be anyone you want
to,
It is quite easy to be someone
else,
But the greatest joy can only
and must only be found,
When you are yourself.