To LOVE is to know.

Today was another really really great and enlightening day. We traveled to Port of Spain to visit a man named LeRoy Clarke, when I say "man" I should really say artist, poet and someone with enough wisdom to fill up the whole island of Trinidad. We went to his home which is called the "Legacy House" and he calls it a live in museum. Its a large house on a hill that is covered with all of his paintings and trinkets he's collected over his lifetime. When we first arrived he told us to make ourselves at home and take a look around. All of the walls contained large canvases of his paintings and some from other artists, but mostly his own.

He even let us look into his bedroom which was one of the most beautiful spaces I've ever seen! It's located on the corner of the house so its surrounded with windows and soo much natural light. Anyone could get inspired by sitting in that room, and just to think that's where he sleeps! So after we all take a walk or two around this EPIC home we sit down in a circle and begin talking. To make a really long story short LeRoy is an amazing poet/artist who's work is hanging up in museums around the world, he believes in Orishas and he is extremely spiritual. He spoke to us about his paintings and all of the journeys he went on with many of them. I guess one could say he is somewhat of an abstract artist. He talked about how in his 71 years of life, he's still on a journey and he separates his artistic life through Trinidad in three phases: The Douens, El Tucuche and the pyramid (or similar to the shape of the pyramid) each has significance to Trinidadian life and life in general. After long conversations about his Art, once again, the conversation about finding your self arose. LeRoy talked about our inner devils and in order to get rid of them we must face them and tell them to "FUCK OFF" and yes, he actually said fuck off. He touched on love, happiness and "the journey" a lot. I was mesmerized by the way he spoke and his use of language, I always say you can tell when you're talking to a writer because they have a way of captivating you. He spoke softly and had a Trinidadian accent but, I heard, listened, and understood every word he spoke. I began to think about my own life and what I'm put on this earth to do and to be. We often think about what the earth can do for me, instead of thinking what can I do for the Earth. Personally, I struggle with understanding who I am and what meaning my life has. I've been defined by so many people that I no longer know whether or not my definition of myself is my own. I've also learned to put up so many walls because I'm afraid if people see the real me that they may not like it or that I may not reach the standards I'm supposed to. So, now realizing that I have these walls up is the first step towards tearing them down, reaching my spirituality and my true character. Aside from my own revelations LeRoy introduced us to his protegee Muhammed, he's about 27 years old and is a poet and really really good at spoken word (he was one of the people that came in to show us about MAS). He recited in spoken word one of his love letters that he wrote to his girlfriend and when I say WOWZAAA I mean it! That poem was one of the best I've ever heard, so romantic, rebellious and structured soooo well! I really hope he reaches the goals he wants and I believe he will be just like LeRoy someday. The time came for us to leave but, LeRoy asked us to stay and have a glass of scotch with him, he hit on the ladies a little and told us about his past love endeavors as well. He said two things that I will never forget:
1. To love is to know.
2. "Age aint nuttin but a numba', girls wanna get their mind fucked": Meaning, once u get into her head sex no longer matters because she's already been captivated.

Some other LeRoy quotes that I enjoyed:

(From one of my group mates notes)

"I know my own loneliness, and it's expensive."

"I like war."

"I had the extra blessing of knowing I was blessed."

"My paintings are my paintings, but they are not my paintings."

"And you are going to make me beautiful if you read me."

"You must learn how to dance the language."

Best experience ever!

Yellowgirl is in awe!