Today is World Poetry Day, an annual celebration observed on March 21st since its adoption by UNESCO in 1999. According to UNESCO's website, World Poetry Day serves as a tribute to poets, a platform to revive oral traditions of poetry recitals, a catalyst for promoting the reading, writing, and teaching of poetry, a medium for fostering the intersection of poetry with other art forms such as theatre, dance, music, and painting, and an opportunity to amplify the visibility of poetry in the media.
For my post today, I am sharing two poems by Caribbean poets. The first, penned by Mervyn Morris, made me laugh when I read it, so I decided that was reason enough to share it today. The second poem is written by Miss Lou, a poet many will be familiar with. In a recent class, we had the privilege of having a Jamaican classmate recite another one of Miss Lou's poems, which enhanced the experience. While many of our Jamaican accents may not be up to the mark, (lol), reading this one out loud with gusto adds an extra dimension!
I hope you enjoy these! Do you have a favourite Caribbean poet or poem? Comment below. I would love to explore their work!
Peeling Orange by Mervyn Morris
Dem use to seh
yu peel a orange perfec
an yu get new clothes
But when mi father try
fi teach mi
slide de knife
up to de safeguard thumb
I move de weapon like a saw inna mi han
and de dyamn rind break
An if yu have de time
yu can come see mi
in mi ole clothes
peelin
NOH LICKLE TWANG by Louise Bennet
Me glad fe se's you come back bwoy,
But lawd yuh let me dung,
Me shame o' yuh soh till all o'
Me proudness drop a grung.
Yuh mean yuh goh dah 'Merica
An spen six whole mont' deh,
An come back not a piece betta
Dan how yuh did goh wey?
Bwoy yuh noh shame?
Is soh you come?
Afta yuh tan soh lang!
Not even lickle language bwoy?
Not even little twang?
An yuh sista wat work ongle
One week wid 'Merican
She talk so nice now dat we have
De jooce fe undastan?
Bwoy yuh couldn' improve yuh self!
An yuh get soh much pay?
Yuh spen six mont' a foreign, an
Come back ugly same way?
Not even a drapes trouziz? or
A pass de rydim coat?
Bwoy not even a gole teet or
A gole chain roun yuh t'roat.
Suppose me las' rne pass go introjooce
Yuh to a stranga
As me lamented son wat lately
Come from 'Merica!
Dem hooda laugh afta me, bwoy
Me could'n tell dem soh!
Dem hooda sey me lie, yuh was
A-spen time back a Mocho.
Noh back-ansa me bwoy, yuh talk
Too bad; shet up yuh mout,
Ah doan know how yuh an yuh puppa
Gwine to meck it out.
Ef yuh want please him meck him tink
Yuh bring back someting new.
Yuh always call him "Pa" dis evenin
'Wen him come sey "Poo".