Thislion Cahtame

A Mindset of the Moon Thislion Cahtame

Poetry, which is often seen as feminine and passive, is generally not a go-to form of artistic expression for Caribbean men. In the hills of Gonzales, Belmont, and Laventille, Trinidad & Tobago, where Kevin Agard aka ThisLion CahTame was raised, this is perhaps truer. The home of the steel pan, Laventille is no novice to creating beauty but such creativity is invariably steeped in machismo. It is an environment that may seem more conducive to the hammering of steel pans than the writing of poems. Yet it is in this setting that Lion carved a personal space for introspection and found his way to poetry. By putting pen to paper he began to unearth beauty beneath considerable pain and heartbreak. Writing became therapy for him, enabling him to transform undesirable circumstances into words that would help him heal. As he shared his musings on social media, it became clear that his words resonated with others especially women. His piece "Knowing How To Touch Her Without Touching Her Really Touches Her" garnered praise among many women for giving voice to things they wished men would see. The support that has continued to burgeon for Lion's work echoes the pleasure of seeing a man so comfortable with expressing gentleness, acknowledging beauty, and celebrating women. This collection "A Mindset of the Moon" explores these topics but it also shows how even in our most challenging moments, we carry light.