“I put my soul into every beat, every piece is uniquely an extension of who I am.”
The depth of those words from artist/poet Amanda Lyons tugged at the heartstrings, from a dimly lit phone screen, Friday morning.
Lyons shouldn’t be here. Diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, in the American summer of 2021, doctors gave the half-Trinidadian/half-Irish creator just over a year to live.
Twelve months later, not only is Lyons cancer-free (knock on wood), but she’s also completed her first book of poetry: Mango Dew. Amazingly, the publication, which marries her love of poetry and the visual arts, has become an Amazon bestseller and the new #1 for Caribbean and Latin American poetry.
“The ocean is my place of calling,” an emotional Lyons continued on Friday from her vacation spot on the sister island of Tobago.
The charismatic word painter is currently in Tobago with her Trinidadian mother Yvette Ramkissoon and her side of the family, celebrating her 31st birthday. Lyons’ parents met in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, where her father, musician George Lyons, was performing Frank Sinatra covers.
Lyons, who grew up and lives in Boston with her father, says she comes to Trinidad every year to refresh and recharge.
“The rays of the Caribbean sun fall in a mystical rhythm. Trinidad and Tobago’s luscious green landscape, sparkling waters and colorful culture inspire my work. Bringing our vision to life and preserving our story is what keeps our stories alive. Peace gives our youthful energy, keeping only goodness in our heart. My paintings open space in the collector’s energy and home adding luxurious harmony,” she continued about her muse, which are these islands.
A born artist
From a very young age, Lyons knew her hands were meant to create works of art. It was more a matter of figuring out when than why and how, she recalls.
“I have been an artist all my life, I started drawing and writing poetry as a child. From drawing when I matured, I turned to painting. The feeling of mixing colors to make the perfect palette for a fresh canvas is always a new exciting moment. I always knew at a young age that I would realize my dream of writing books, I just didn’t know when the right moment would come,” she said.
Mango Dew’s pages are snapshots of her travels and life experiences, she says. The book is currently available locally at Good’s General Store at the Normandie Hotel, Paper Based bookstore and Scribbles and Quills.
“Prior to my diagnosis, when I was 26, I took two solo trips to Costa Rica and Panama. Mango Dew is arranged in five chapters, accompanied by my original paintings. My art and poetry is a compilation of beautiful moments in my life that were notable moments. Moments of happiness, travel, color, love, healing, song and lightness. Moments that resonated,” she echoed.
The prospect of the book becoming an inspiration for other like-minded creators to complete their projects and for citizens at large to support those efforts fills the young poet with joy.
“As humans, we are on a constant journey to seek and feel connection. My desire is for you to simply discover that connection of presence for a moment through my work. I hope my readers will be encouraged to follow suit in supporting local ingenuity and Caribbean creative productivity,” she noted.
The fight of her life
Lyons recalled the horror of her cancer diagnosis, bleak prognosis and odds-defying recovery in a calm, matter-of-fact tone Friday.
“A tumor appeared under my left eye last summer. I noticed it immediately and checked it out. Some doctors in California told me ‘don’t worry’ about the bump on my face and that it ‘will go away’. Well, it never went away and continued to grow rapidly,” she said.
The growing stroke left him with severe facial pain, which led to a referral to a surgeon, who performed a biopsy and called the young artist in for an appointment a week later.
“He found out within minutes of my arrival that I had Ewing’s sarcoma cancer. Not all of the cancer cells were removed as the tumor developed arms and began to grow into the back of my cheekbone. The surgeon told me I would have to see an oncologist,” she recalls.
With oncologists in California unable to treat her cancer, Lyons returned to her home base in Boston and became a patient at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Farber is a world leader in adult and pediatric cancer treatment and research.
“After surgery, 49 chemotherapy treatments, 32 radiation sessions and five blood transfusions, I am finally in remission from this terrible disease,” she added.
These days Lyons tries to maintain a healthy lifestyle, enjoys meditation and quiet time alone in nature. Perhaps this is why the talented artist is so eager to make these shores her permanent home.
“Life has changed course in every way. A healthy lifestyle and a healthy mindset has been my anchor. Taking life day by day. Enjoy the slow moments in life. Meditation, breath work and lots of self-love feed the soul. That and spending quiet time alone in nature.”
While the plan is to be full-time here, Lyons will have to travel to the US for regular checkups to make sure her cancer hasn’t returned. She plans to be more present at the moment, but when she is here. And there’s a show of her art planned for January 2023.
“I will work with museums in T&T to help preserve our local art. I will also work with environmental protection specialists. Family is everything. Earth food, Tobago waters, river, paintings, steel pan, tropical plants and Trini love make for the perfect callaloo recovery. Don’t you think so?” she finished with a smile between her cheeks.
Visit www.amandaslyons.com for more information.
