Walcott & Caribbean Poetry

     After reading on the background on Caribbean poetry as well as some poems from Derek Walcott, I was surprised about a few things while also finding out some things that I expected. An immediate thing that suck out to me, like all the literature we have read out of these islands - it means something. There is a message behind these poems. The article says, "it can hardly be denied that West Indian English poetry is good and vital precisely because, like all great poetry in the past, it includes ethics and politics, and its authors are agreed that, poetry matters, and it has a crucial role to play in making an unjust world more just." We have talked about the postcolonial issue of representation and ostracized people not having a voice. Written word like poetry can level the playing field for people like this and give them the opportunity to have their voice heard. 

    David Walcott was no exception to this role. Poetry was an avenue for the Saint Lucia native to go from something ordinary like painting to becoming a Nobel Prize winner. Also a playwright, Walcott knew how to entangle his complex ideas and words with Caribbean culture in a way that is respected by many. His work parallels some of the themes we have seen in other Caribbean literature with things like death, love, and family. He also writes about the transition from the Caribbean islands to the mainland U.S. which we have seen other authors do. In "Map of the New World" he writes, "Slowly the  sail will lose sight of islands; into a mist will go the beliefs in harbors of an entire race." Walcott actually did this himself, sharing time between New York and Boston later in his life, while also returning to Saint Lucia. It seems important for these people that leave the Caribbean to remember where they came from.

-cs

Comments

  1. Tommy TimeNovember 22, 2020 at 7:19 PM

    Craig, I too enjoyed finding out that each of David Walcott’s poems have a meaningful message behind them. You raised an interesting viewpoint using the quote from the article “It can hardly be denied that West Indian English poetry is good…poetry matters, and it has a crucial role to play in making an unjust world more just.” I think this was excellent and well-spoken idea because poetry is something that helps me relax throughout my stressful day. Great job!

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