Guyanese poet launches book of inspirational poetry

Carlene Gill-Kerr, a Guyanese poet better known for her spoken word style of delivery in the theatre fraternity, on Saturday launched her book ‘Hey You, I’m Enough’ at the Backyard BBQ and Grill. Young and old writers, poetry enthusiasts and practitioners of the arts gathered for the small intimate ceremony and book signing.

Gill-Kerr, a prolific writer with two previously released works, started writing as a form of self therapy. “As long as I can remember writing has been my outlet, my entertainment, my everything, eventually after writing I started sharing them and then became this performer,” she explained.

Her writing led her to the stage where she would have performed powerful, showstopping pieces at poetry slams, Ministry of Culture Events and the Theatre Guild Playhouse.

“Writing, it is a gift, don’t be stingy, share it with others” Gill-Kerr stated when she addressed the small crowd on Saturday.

The book is filled with inspirational poems that touch on Gill-Kerr’s real life experiences. Her writing skills are attributed to reading books and listening at a very young age and the need to relay stories to others in a poetic form.

As she got older her writing evolved into telling her experienced stories and motivating herself. In proof reading she found that she should share her work with others so they can find their own hope, purpose and grace to overcome anything that life may want to throw at them.

One of the noteworthy pieces in ‘Hey You, I’m Enough’ is entitled ‘I See You’ which examines destiny as the judge of time and a person’s will to rise above. There are other pieces that also examine emotional and physical abuse in which Gill-Kerr uses her skill to make victims have a sense of upliftment.

“At the end of the day, look inside you and find that strength to get up and move on,” Gill-Kerr said.