Four founders highlight poetry anniversary

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

A shower of good fortune sent the Poetry Society of Jamaica's 22nd anniversary fellowship indoors on Tuesday night, as four of the five founding members gathered on stage in the space named for Dennis Scott, iconic theatre and literary figure.

Despite the importance of the occasion which, save for the rain, would have been held in the Edna Manley College's amphitheatre, the long-established format was adhered to, and there was an open-mic segment before the society's founders came onstage. Among those presenting poetry in the later stages of that section were Choice (who did White Shadows, Black Faces), Lynch and Sage of LSX, Nabby Natural (festooned with glowing Christmas lights), Leslie-Ann Wanliss (who did a trio of poems for schizophrenic relatives), and Michael Abrahams with Tivoli One Year After.

They read and recited against the backdrop of large pictures of those who started the Poetry Society of Jamaica's fellowships on the last Tuesday of every month, the images from a time closer to 1989 than 2011.

future plans

Tommy Ricketts was the first of the quintet to add his live, moving presence to the still, blown-up image, explaining the society's islandwide 'Verse vs Verse' thrust, as well as the intention to have a national poetry festival that would incorporate existing events.

While the plans were interesting, the near-full house at the theatre had come for verse, and they got it in short order, Ricketts introducing Tomlin Ellis and then Calvin Mitchell, the first observing the image of his younger self. He reminded the audience of - or introduced them to - some persons with whom they were associated, including Chris Bailey who Ellis said came to the then Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation and told him that there needed to be a gathering of poets - no stars.

Then there were those with whom they performed - Claudette Pious, Roy Rayon, Clive Anderson, Oliver Smith and Hope Black among them. Ellis started the poetry even before the introductions were over, reciting Oliver Smith's exhortation to "write and chant/the poetry with the Jamaican descant".

Malachi Smith was the last of the founding members to come onstage, the rain that had driven the fellowship inside also preventing Shaka Bantuta from attending the anniversary gathering. He started with poetry right away, paying homage to the original Wailers, Ellis picking up on the theme but focusing on Marley, who "had strength and followed the path of redemption".

Ricketts reflected on the times when he hosted the Poetry Society's fellowships, when some thought that his critiques were too harsh. He read a piece he had just written, sparked by some of what he had heard, demanding "give me poems or give me the right to cuss this literary night". He ended with the plea "give me poems, please".

With Mitchell drumming unprompted and in sync with the voices, there were poems to the 'Kumina King' Professor Rex Nettleford and Delroy Wilson, and Smith's poetic comparison of Jamaica to a captivating girl in 'Change of Heart'.

Ricketts reflected on Nettleford's impact and contribution, noting that one could not come up in the theatre and arts and not have some interaction with 'Prof'.

"We can speak our own tongue in any language," Ricketts emphasised in intonation and repetition in his poem.

The exchanges continued, Tomlin reflecting on the compactness of poetry which "is like the sum total of your father's wrath summarised in three words - come ya bway".

There was a trio of love poems before a climactic moment when they went back to Poets in Unity with the infectious 'Write the History Again', inviting Owen 'Blakka' Ellis and M'bala to join on drums and percussions, a short musicians' jam session following the anniversary gathering's official farewell.