The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

AFTER overcoming reading and writing challenges through a special learning support programme, fifteen-year old Lester Williams reached a major milestone with the release of his first book of poetry.

Since overcoming his learning challenges with dyslexia, the ninth grader at St Andrew’s School launched “Joy to the Heart and Soul”, which features a wide range of subjects including love, disaster, nature and human survival. The poems were taken from Lester’s personal collection.

Since he started compiling poetry several years, his heart had been set on sharing them with others. He received tremendous feedback from teachers, friends, class mates, as well as family who heard his poems and were touched. Lester desired to share his thoughts with a much wider audience.

“I thought of the idea of the book during the last few months of grade eight. To be honest, year eight was not one of my favourite years in school. I had a difficult time accepting some things and I really needed some joy. Poetry is a way that I express my feelings. It feels like a giant weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Writing poems allows me to focus more on personal matters,” he told Tribune Arts.

Lester found his niche in creative writing last year and penned hundreds of poems. He is in the process of compiling poems for a second book, “Chasing The Wind: A Collection of Vows”.

“What really inspired me to keep writing is when people kept talking about a poem I read to the class one time ago. There is always that one thing that people will remember you by and the students remembered the poem I read that day,” he said.

Lester’s mother Bridgette Williams said at first she and Lester’s father were not aware of his profound love for poetry. Most times when Lester had a pen in his hand they assumed he was just doing school work.

“We did not know that he wrote poems that often. He would tell us from time to time what he did. I would see him writing and I always thought he was doing school work. I did not know he was doing poetry. When I first heard his poem ‘Girl’, I was so shocked at his ability. He would email a lot of his poems to me so that I could review and edit them,” she said.

Mrs Williams said they will continue to support Lester and ensure he develops his craft fully.

“I just cried because of that accomplishment. I stood in the front of Logos Bookstore and looked at my child’s book in the window next to books from authors like Steven Spielberg, Joel Osteen and I just said wow. As a parent all you could do is be proud,” she said.

Lester intends to pursue creative writing as a professional career. In fact, the young St Andrew’s School student is not waiting until completing secondary education to start pursuing different avenues of creative expression. He has already written a play called “The Savior” and sent it off to producer/writer George Lucas, in hopes that it becomes the plot of a next big movie.

Joy to the Heart and Soul is available at Logos Bookstore.