March 22, 2009 — Tabari Davis is a soft-spoken junior from Charlotte Amalie High School, but his powers of expression set him apart: Get him in front of a crowd and he shines with a cool and confident disposition that makes him appear wise beyond his years.
This April, he's off to Washington, D.C., to demonstrate that disposition to the nation.
As state champion of this year's Poetry Out Loud competition, not only did he receive cash and prizes, but Davis also has the opportunity to put his poetry-recitation skills to the test at the national competition April 27 and 28.
Fortunately, he's getting good advice from last year's national winner, Shawntay Henry, who just happens to be from CAHS, as well. And though Davis will recite others' poems at the competition, he writes his own verse and lyrics.
As a writer, Davis says he writes about other peoples' stories and lifestyles, or whatever happens to be on his mind at the time. A recent poem, "My Favorite Superhero" (below), focuses on the death of a friend that resulted from the escalating gun violence on St. Thomas.
While preparing for V.I. Teen Idol Competitions, he crossed paths with a couple of friends in the music-production business. With experience as a jazz vocalist, accomplished writing abilities and a passion for R&B, Davis recently cut his first album, Project Part One.
Davis is quick on his feet, too. He placed as the eighth-fastest 400-meter sprinter in the Caribbean at the track and field finals in the under-16 category. He also plays defensive end on his high school football team and runs the 200, 400, and 800-meter on the track team.
He's eying Georgia State, Florida State or Florida International University after high school, and hopes to pursue an education in electrical engineering technology.
For now, Davis is looking forward to his 17th birthday this week and says he will continue to write and put out CDs.
"I don't know where it will go," he says. "I just train, feel it out and see if people like what I'm doing."
Visit myspace.com/freshyoungtalent to listen to a couple of tracks by Davis — also known as $FrEsH YoUnG TaLeNt$.
My Favorite Superhero
I laughed at first …
because that's what you do
when you hear a good joke …
you laugh.
After all, what they were saying
just couldn't be true.
I just saw you Saturday
wearing that big grin and a white tee
just like you always do.
But now I hear you're dead,
so now I picture you with no grin,
and a white tee, that used to be,
but now the color is red.
And as I think of all the
fights you've been in and
all the macho talk you talked
I still can't even picture someone hating you.
We all know you've been beat,
the only superhero with no powers,
but we would always hear from you again.
I could bet my bottom dollar.
That's why it's so hard to believe
that some joker actually shot Batman down.
Life won't be the same now that my favorite
superhero is not around …
R.I.P KAHLIF LEADER
Tabari Davis
3/11/09
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