Celebrating The Life Of Colin Hylton

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For Colin from Poet Tanya Shirley

Silk, scarf, sandals, florals,

hat — check,

cock of the head,

toothy smile,

a dip back and aGirl,

long time me nuh see you.

You know he’s arrived.

He’s at home anywhere:

fancy function, gold-rimmed crockery,

opera, pinkies in the air.

Switch it up selector!

Afro beats, psychedelic strobes,

body raves, vodka swooshing

in plastic cups — he’s there.

Switch it up selector!

Sound system perched on the road

side, men sitting on crates, mountains

over shoulder, mannish water bubbling

in a pot close to the ground — he’s there.

Remix!

Bruk, bruk, bruk it down, wine, wine

wine we a wine, ben down, stay down.

Lighters in the air

for Colin

who is now in the centre of the dance.

I swear

even as he stood out, he fit in anywhere.

Give him the beach, a five star hotel

or a villa in the background, a table

and friends ready for kalooki — he’s there

ready to laugh, ready to win, to knock

despair out of the air.

He will tell you how he switched

from accounting, swapped spreadsheets

and cold cubicles for the fire of a kitchen

where his hands whisked miracles:

passionfruit cheesecake converting

the unbelievers, death by chocolate

cake; oh holy rum and ganache,

the gospel of irreverence in every fork

full of anything he laid his hands on.

Pumpkin bisque met Red Stripe,

East met West and when oxtail

was still humble, he showed herlasagna

and she’s never been the same.

Who else in Jamaica had snakes

in their restaurant? So a date was

was food and thrill and the guilt

was a guise we journeyed through

until we stumbled out the ivy draped

gate holding our date a little tighter,

a little more aware of the rumblings

of joy in our bellies, in our hearts.

He made us more alive.

Colin catered a function with his whole

being: first checked the setting, the guest

list, the perceived palates, desired vibe.

Then went to market, the drawing board,

the place in his mind where genius resided.

I can see him now in the garden

picking hibiscus for garnish, gathering

fresh herbs, the sun playing dandy shandy

on his smooth skin.

Like a hummingbird, he flits from stem

to stalk, pulls up sweetness for us.

The table spread like a painting, colours

bursting, aromas stirring in the breeze.

Who makes their boudoir a feasting place?

Only Colin

who taught us the intimacy of friendship,

how in our togetherness, we ward off death.

This is no dress rehearsal.

Colin, will always exist

in the moments when we remember

how he lived like fire, like the earth,

like the sea, like every force of nature

that can never be destroyed.

For Colin from Nevada Powe

A Shout Out from the Inner Circle…

Living out loud and proud before it became fashionable, he encouraged us all to stand in our truth.

He Colinised friends and food from all over the world with his erudite wit, flair and panache; cooking a legendary social pot of food, people and experiences

Always stepping out as if emerging from the pages of Vogue Hommes with bold colors and flashy accessories.

He knew how to live!

A walking contradiction of a very private person, yet very public persona. A man of the people who spoke to anyone, but was also a playful snob. Fierce loyalist and bitter enemy. Could love you passionately while self-righteously holding a decade long grudge.

Educated and literate beyond imagination, he could wax lyrically on almost any topic. For the curious and adventurous Colin Hylton, life was an abundant experience to be shared.

The adventure and celebration begins and ends at his table.

In his name, let’s seek the best within us, find the courage to stand as we are, and live life to the fullest.

Loved by some, missed by many, respected by all.

Standing up and standing tall.

Colin Saint Aubyn Hylton