My Personal Review to Caribbean Poets, Dereck Walcott and Olive

Senior, and their works

Throughout history, poetry has proved to be a powerful tool of expression for the voice of
an individual and/or region. This remains true for the Caribbean, which especially had a need to
find and express its unique voice to the world. Hence, over time handfuls of talented poets, such
as Dereck Walcott and Olive Senior, began to publish works expressing themselves and
Caribbean experiences in creative and inspired ways. Therefore, in this essay, I will review the
poems 'Midsummer, Tobago' and 'Homescape' by Dereck Walcott and Olive Senior,
respectively. Moreover, I will be looking at how exactly both poets used their Caribbean voices
within these works. 

  Dereck Walcott was a poet and playwright from St. Lucia, and naturally, a handful of his
poems especially drew inspiration from his West Indian roots. This Caribbean influence was also
seen in his poem 'Midsummer, Tobago'. Upon my first read of the poem, it immediately conjured
up images of a typical summer day in the Caribbean. From the first few lines, I could tell that the
persona seemed to be almost an observer of the area rather than taking part in the scenery.
According to Walcott, "Broad sun-stoned beaches. White heat. A green river. A bridge, scorched
yellow palms."
  Moreover, the poem then takes a turn from contently enjoying the view into almost a
lament or yearning for what used to be. According to Walcott, "Days I have held, days I have
lost". 
The following two lines in the poem then bring to mind the thought that perhaps the persona is
now an adult, yearning for the old summers that were in their youth; in essence, he is saying that
he outgrew them and that those experiences him. According to Walcott, "days that outgrow, like
daughters,
my harbouring arms."
Furthermore, in my opinion, although the persona realizes that his summer days have
ended, the language indicates that he is almost at peace with it. Moreover, the persona may be
content with this as the relaxing, and fun images of his summers in Tobago remain safe in his
memory. Additionally, the theme of this yearning the persona has for his summer in the
Caribbean makes the reader also yearn for it. It also helps to paint the Caribbean summer
experience in a fun, relaxing, and enjoyable light.

Our second Caribbean poet, Olive Senior, was born in Jamaica and also drew on her Caribbean
heritage to inspire her poems. Her poem entitled, 'Homescape' from her collection of poetry
called 'Talking of Trees'.  When I first read the poem, I believe the true meaning of it escaped me;
it was not until rereading and listening to the poem that I genuinely think I began to analyze and
interpret Olive Senior's words. 
The poem overall seems to be the persona detailing their life, and similar to Walcott's
poem, there seems to be a common theme of reminiscing or lamentation of sorts. The poem
begins with the line, "I was born with the knowledge of mountains and solitaires." This
immediately paints the image of a Caribbean island vibrant with flora and fauna and the
knowledge and love of it. However, the poem then takes a turn as the reality of our world seeps
in and time changes the values on the island. According to Senior, "Till jet planes and
skyscrapers seduce this to mountains alone and one note of a solitaire, till the politicians' words
reduce this to mountains alone now, the solitaire sings not, and knowledge is brittle as glass."  
To me, these lines illustrate almost a loss of appreciation of not only the nature our Caribbean
Islands provide but also the culture and knowledge. All of this is lost occurs for the sake of
"progression" or "modernization". 
The following lines of the poem almost gave breath to hope, a revival of our past, roots,
and nature. According to Senior, "If the Solitaire sings again, I will be born to that life again,
alone I will walk through the glass and become." 
Moreover, perhaps the solitaire could also be a metaphor for culture or tradition dying due to
colonialization/modernization and its ideals. Furthermore, the person realizes that by embracing
the former life and being one with nature, they would walk a lonely path but are content with
that, but for now, they reminisce. 

In conclusion, although these very profound poems both may seem simple and different
on the surface, they both have common themes, hopes and questions, and overall an appreciation
for their Caribbean roots. Therefore, both Dereck Walcott and Olive Senior enable their
Caribbean voices (in different ways) to show appreciation and love for their culture. As well as
to invite people to look into their world through their eyes to see both the beauties and issues that
befall the Caribbean and value all of it.
 Erasure
A poem inspired by Olive Senior

Erasure
I was born with little knowledge of the frigate bird and lesser knowledge of fungee.
Oh what tools have they provided me for the erasure of my country:
A white out run across the pages of our history, run across our food.
I was born with no tongue for our language; talk creole and you’re rude.
Now, an eraser aims to smudge our cultural dances,
and a stapler to shut the pages of our humble practices.
Finally, I was born with no knowledge of who we are,
And a permanent marker is taken to my skin.
So that when we can’t fit in with white you,
we may blend in to the darkness of nothing.