Carcanet Press Logo
Quote of the Day
I'm filled with admiration for what you've achieved, and particularly for the hard work and the 'cottage industry' aspect of it.
Fleur Adcock
Order by 16th December to receive books in time for Christmas. Please bear in mind that all orders may be subject to postal delays that are beyond our control.

Review of 'I been there, sort of: New and selected poems'

6 December 2006
Mel Cooke, The Jamaica Gleaner


When Professor Mervyn Morris spoke at the Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts, University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona campus, on Sunday morning, he began with gratitude.
   HE named a few persons, including Seretse Small who had sung on 'Freedom', but gave a blanket thank you to those who were a part inspiring the poems, before reading from his latest publication, I have been there, sort of: New & Selected Poems.
   Earlier, guest speaker Dr. Ralph Thompson had identified the title of the book, launched in a function put on by the Department of Literatures in English and hosted by its head, Dr Anthea Morrison, as coming from one of the 'new', 'Toasting a Muse'. 'Mervyn is no ivory tower intellectual,' Thompson said, noting his emphasis on the importance of nation language.
   Naturally, most of the reading came from Morris who stated with the selected poems. 'Data' was followed by 'Tournament', a tennis poem which used his sport of choice to address declining years. 'The Day My Father Died', his first poem to appear in a book. Independence Anthology of Jamaican Literature, was written in 1960 in England, 12 years after his father died.
   A series of poems from 'On Holy Week' preceded the new poems. 'I had a manuscript that I was flogging that was not accepted. It was called 'Peeling Orange'' he said, before reading that poem, written in Jamaican nation language, laughter rising at the humorous conclusion. 'Toasting a Muse' followed, 'Eve' mused 'the garden seemed a proper paradise, until she buck up a serpent talking nice'. There was rhythm in 'A Chant Against Death' and he finished with 'A Word'.

DRAMATIC PRESENTATION
   It was not the end of Morris' work for the day, however, as after a plant was presented to his wife Helen, there was a dramatic presentation of some of his poems. Kei Miller delivered 'Short Story', Tanya Shirley and Karl Williams exchanged lines and looks on 'Proposition One', Carolyn Allen utilised the width of the stage on 'Operation', Williams returned toting a desk for Boarding School and Shirley ended 'Reunion' with an infectious giggle.
   Michael Bucknor walked quietly across the stage and was struck by the sign 'Strip Club' which had been placed on the lectern, reading the closing 'Stripper' ('she took the last piece off that the law allowed/ the poet felt his symbol growing hard') from behind the curtain.
   There was laughter as Morrison removed the sign with a flourish before giving the vote of thanks.
Previous review of 'I been there, sort of: New and Selected Poems'... Next review of 'I been there, sort of: New and Selected Poems'... To the Mervyn Morris page... To the 'I been there, sort of: New and Selected Poems' page...
Share this...
The Carcanet Blog One Little Room: Peter McDonald read more Collected Poems: Mimi Khalvati read more Invisible Dog: Fabio Morbito, translated by Richard Gwyn read more Dante's Purgatorio: Philip Terry read more Billy 'Nibs' Buckshot: John Gallas read more Emotional Support Horse: Claudine Toutoungi read more
Find your local bookshop logo
Arts Council Logo
We thank the Arts Council England for their support and assistance in this interactive Project.
This website ©2000-2024 Carcanet Press Ltd