World Poetry Day was originally celebrated on the third Saturday in October and then October 15 was earmarked as it coincided with birthday of Virgil, the Roman epic poet and poet laureate under Augustus. However, in 1999 UNECSO declared March 21 as World Poetry Day, a day which is now also used in Guyana.
Would that World Poetry Day had remained in October for my database shows that there are more than ten Guyanese poetry writers born during this month.
It is useful to know that this article is another effort to lobby for A Day of Guyanese Literature, (for more, please see the Sunday Magazine section of the Guyana Times, 29 September, 2019).
These Guyanese writers include (in no particular order) Ada Debidin, Cleveland Hamilton, Paloma Mohamed, Rajkumari Singh, Michelle Asantewa, Eric Phillips, John Campbell, James C. Richmond, Dennis Craig, Taij Kumarie Mootelall, Merlin October Persaud, Patrick Cheeks and Brianna Gopie.
Ada Debidin was fifty-four when her first published poem, ‘Lines at Bartica’, came out in The Chronicle Christmas Annual of 1967. Her first collection of poems was published when she was age 85.
Cleveland Hamilton was a poet who immortalised our heroes and heroines, also capturing the life of significant world events and the noteworthy nature of places. He was profuse in praise for womanhood. He wrote the ‘Song of the Republic’ [of Guyana]. His first and only collection of poems is ‘As I was Singing’.
Paloma Mohamed, has already won the Guyana Prize for Literature three times! She has published a collection of plays, two books of poems, and written numerous plays. She has also produced a number of films and has written literature for children and studies on child abuse.
Rajkumari Singh was a poet, playwright, broadcaster, and political activist who established herself as the first recognised East Indian woman writer in Guyana. She pioneered and enhanced the slighted ‘coolie art forms’ and became the surrogate cultural and artistic mother to younger writers and artists. In 1971, she published ‘A Collection of Poems’, which tells of her perception and true feeling about issues affecting her. The poem ‘Per Aji’ is her most anthologized work
John Campbell was a poet, playwright, actor and artist. In 1957, he won the University of the West Indies award with the play Come Back to Melda. He published seven collections of poems, a collection of famous murder stories, a collection of five one act plays and a monograph.
Dennis Craig was an educator, linguist, painter and poet who won the Guyana Prize for Literature for Best First Book of Poetry in 1998. His poem ‘Flowers’ was his most anthologised piece and one of the best-known poems throughout the Caribbean.
Mahadai Das published three collections of poems, namely, ‘I Want to be a Poetess of my People’, ‘My Finer Steal Will Grow’ and ‘Bones’. ‘A Leaf in his Ear: Selected Poems’ was published by Peepal Tree Press in honour of her memory. Her most anthologised piece is ‘They came in Ships’.
In 1998, Merlin Octobert Persaud took up an unlikely challenge from the Secondary School Reform Project, Ministry of Education, by writing a collection of 24 poems, later publishing the anthology. Soon after, two of those poems found their way into the Guyana Christmas Annual 1999.
James C. Richmond is a prolific, evocative spoken-word artist, poet, writer and actor. Richmond is the first person in history to write and publish in poetry on the book of Daniel in the Bible. Also, he has written poetry on the entire Book of Revelation. His publications: include ‘Reflections of Today’, ‘Where the Pomeroon Meets’, and ‘ On the Window of My Skin’.
Eric Phillips as so far published more than three collections of poems including ‘Wishful Love’ and ‘Quintessentially Yours’.
Michelle Asantewa
Michelle Asantewa is an editor, publisher, novelist and poet. ‘The Awakening and other poems’ is her first collection of poems.
Patrick Cheeks would walk the walk by sharing his poetry in schools. He has published lots of poetry including ‘Heartsongs: A Poetic Symphony’ which contains sixty-four poems.
Brianna Gopie won the first prize in the Junior Poetry Category of The Guyana Annual 2019 issue with her poem, ‘Puppets’.
Taij Kumarie Mootelall is a change agent, multifaceted artist, poetess and performer. She cofounded Blackout Arts Collective, Jahajee Sisters and many other similar organizations, lobbying for the rights of women artists. Taij was instrumental in the publication of a poetry anthology entitled, ‘Bolo Bahen! Speak Sister!’
Bolo Guyana, bolo in poetry.
Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com
