KINGSTON, Jamaica, January 31, 2025 – “Staring Into My Soul” isn’t just a title – it’s an invitation to introspection that veteran Jamaican journalist turned marketing maven Curtis Myrie extends through his debut collection of 75 poems that probe deeply into society’s raw nerves.
Drawing inspiration from cultural icon Dr. Louise ‘Miss Lou’ Bennett-Coverly – honored in the piece “She Find Wi Tung Fi Wi” – and influenced by dub poets like the late Mikey Smith, Oku Onuora, Malachi Smith and Mutabaruka, Myrie crafts a masterful blend of standard English and Jamaican Patwa. International media expert Clyde McKenzie notes that while Myrie’s voice is “unmistakably Jamaican,” its reach is universal, touching on shared human experiences that transcend cultural boundaries.
The collection is artfully structured around four pillars: “Garrison and Gordon House,” “Race and Kulcha,” “Family an Yaad,” and “Di Self and Di Soul.” Acclaimed dub poet Malachi Smith draws parallels between Myrie and the legendary Peter Tosh, highlighting how both artists fearlessly confront societal issues. This is particularly evident in “Inna A Di Heat A It,” where Myrie’s verses cut through:
inna di heat a it
meking di headline
every life
wi lose
a di news
beating di deadline
prime time
is crime
life sentence inna a di inna city
shanty town penitentiary
The critical acclaim for Myrie’s work extends through filmmaker Judith Falloon-Reid’s observation that his language “punches,” painting the Jamaican experience in vivid detail.
Author Christina Williams recognizes the collection’s warrior spirit, while Commonwealth Short Story Prize Global 2023 winner Kwame McPherson emphasizes how the poetry illuminates human resilience in the face of adversity.
The book’s launch at the 2nd annual Jamaica Brew Literary and Film Festival in Miramar, Florida, marked the culmination of a long-held dream, encouraged by two influential figures in Myrie’s life.
His St George’s College classmate, the late attorney Donovan Jackson, persistently urged him to compile this collection.
Similarly, St George’s College teacher and coach, Joseph Sanguinetti, metaphorically compared Myrie’s poems to cocoa, insisting they needed their own “basket” – the book that would finally contain them.
This literary endeavor was brought to fruition through collaboration with award-winning book developers Andrene Bonner and Faith Nelson.
Publication sponsorship was provided by the late Jackson’s law firm Nunes, Scholefield, Deleon & Co, St George’s College Old Boy and Founder of the Florida based architectural hardware manufacturer Deltana and the St George’s College Old Boys Association of Florida. WiredJA
