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Guyanese Literature Junction
Oct 12, 2008 Features / Columnists, Guyanese Literature
by Petamber Persaud
World Poetry Day was originally set for October 15 and it was so for many decades. However, in 1999 UNECSO declared March 21 as World Poetry Day.
World Poetry Day has its genesis in one person, a woman. In 1936, Tessa Sweezy Webb started honouring poets of Ohio, USA. This vision soon caught the imagination of poetry lovers worldwide. By 1951, forty-one countries were celebrating the works of their poets.
Webb used the third Saturday in October for her magnanimous work but by 1951, October 15 was accepted as the ideal day to mark the occasion; October 15 is the birthday of Virgil, the Roman epic poet and poet laureate under Augustus.
UNESCO’s declaration of March 21 as World Poetry Day was to promote the reading, writing, publishing and teaching of poetry throughout the world and, as the UNESCO session declaring the day says, to ‘give fresh recognition and impetus to national, regional and international poetry movements.’
We in Guyana (and in many sister CARICOM states) celebrate the occasion on October 15. We in Guyana are graced with a proud poetry tradition.
When we think of Guyanese poetry, the name Martin Carter instantly comes to mind; this is not an exposition on the poet’s work but suffice it to say, that the poetry of Carter has been translated into many languages including Spanish, Dutch and recently Hindi.
Think Guyanese poetry and consider A. J. Seymour’s poetry has been translated into French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Russian, Chinese and Hindi; in Australia, one of his poems is taught in Braille. Consider one of the first Guyanese poets, Egbert ‘Leo’ Martin who in 1888 won an Empirewide competition for best additional verses to the National Anthem.
Think Guyanese poets in the Diaspora comprising many who have won international literary recognition including Fred D’Aguiar winning the T. S. Elliot Poetry Prize, Grace Nichols winning the Commonwealth Poetry Prize in 1983 and David Dabydeen in 1984.
Think Guyanese poems many of which were put to music, given a new lease on longevity including ‘O Beautiful Guyana’ by Walter MacArthur Lawrence, ‘The Berbice Crossing’ by J. W. Chinapen and ‘Way down in Demerara’ by an anonymous writer.
Poetry is the mother of Guyanese literature; the first manifestation came in 1832 when the ‘Colonist’ published his ‘Midnight Musings in Demerara’ right here in Georgetown; in one sweep, at the very beginning of our literary heritage, everything local.
Although poetry is the mother of world literature, it’s a pity now that it is modestly regarded and gravely underutilised.
Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com
Literary update
• Look out for details regarding the production of THE GUYANA ANNUAL 2008-2009; this special souvenir edition will mark Edgar Mittelholzer’s 100th birth anniversary. We are inviting short articles, reminiscences and titbits to this effect.
Closing date for submissions is Friday October 24, 2008. Please contact me on how to acquire books launched during Carifesta X including THE BALGOBIN SAGA by Petamber Persaud.
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