6 Times Sunday Magazine
guyanatimesgy.com
JULY 19, 2015
Times Book World
The Shaping of Guyanese Literature
A Sublime Night: Guyanese and Mexican Poetry B y P etamber P ersaud
It was a sublime night in thoughts, words and in Deeds, a sublime night of poetry, the commingling of Stars, pitching their meaning and messages from, Mexico to Guyana to the world, influenced by the Stars of magic realism, social realism, the classics, in Rhyme and rhythm, it was a sublime night of Poetry, a gathering of kindred spirits Dead poet society and living vessels, A sublime night of poetry in thoughts, words and in Deeds - ‘companions of the Day and Night’.*
T
he evening of Wednesday, July 8, 2015, will be the ‘Companions of the Day and Night’* for many coming years to the scores of poetry lovers who attended ‘A Sublime Night: Guyanese and Mexican
Poetry’. The event was organised by the Embassy of Mexico in Guyana in collaboration with the National Library. The programme was chaired by Mr Alejandro Martinez who ensured that there were no ‘blackouts’ in between presentations, resulting in a compact and smooth delivery of upscale entertainment. The programme was brief; a whetting of the appetite, spawning the craving for more; that’s way it ought to be with literary events. The poems were well-juxtaposed serving in supporting roles and contrasting roles, heightening the value of each poem. The chairperson also did a splendid job of setting the tone of the event by introducing each piece with brief comments on the writers, the readers and on background to the poems. Those remarks were pertinent, rendering any rambling time-consuming preamble by the performer unnecessary. Many literary events are spoilt by the un-
Octavio Paz (1914-1998)
warranted preamble. Supporting the orchestration of Martinez was the printed programme detailing the event, a programme that is a collector’s item and a delight to reporters and researchers. So from the word go, it was fluid motion, a flow of emotion – pleasure and pain and passion, invocation of the muses, engagement of the audience.... The opening piece, “Flowers are our only gar-
Rosario Castellanos (1925-1974)
ments” by Nezahualcoyotl was like an incantation, followed by another incantation, “The Porknocker” by Seeta Shaw Roath. Both pieces were performed by Dr Roath. Nezahualcoyotl was a XV century philosopher, warrior, architect and poet. “To her portrait” by Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz was read by Kit Nascimento while “My Creole Identity” by Elly Niland was read by Gem Madhoo. Both poems reflect on the past shaping the present and future. Sor Juana (Juana Inés de la Cruz) was a nun, born during the viceroyalty of New Spain, whose writing was very advanced for that time. Love and life are celebrated in “At Peace” by Amado Nervo and “River Dance” by Ian McDonald; the themes of both pieces were evoked by a sterling performance from Margaret Lawrence. Amado Nervo, born in 1870, was a poet, journalist and educator. Here is a piece from “At Peace”: “... very near my setting sun, I bless you, Life/because you never gave me neither unfilled hope/nor unfair work, nor underserved sorrow/pain...because I see...that I was the architect of my own destiny....” The next set of poems focuses mainly on love, among other themes. These poems include “Love is an Anguish” by Xavier Villaurrutia, (read by Kojo McPherson) “Destiny” by Rosario Castellanos (read by Gentian Miller) “A Pillar of Salt” by Salvador Novo (read by Ivonne Ocrospoma) “No more Clichés” by Octavio Paz (read by Masud Lewis) “I hope to cure myself” by Jaime Sabines (read by Gabriel Ferrer), and “Ever Waiting” by Shana Yardan (read by Ronessa McAdam). Each poem in this set
Alejandro Martinez chaired the event
Gabriel Ferrer reads Jaime Sabines’ poem “I hope to cure myself”
Ivonne Ocrospoma reading “A Pillar of Salt” by Salvador Novo
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz(1651-1695)
is worthy of quoting in full but lack of space reined in my enthusiasm. However, enjoying the following linesfrom “Love is an anguish”, we read that “Love is an unaccustomed luxury/and voracious gluttony, always empty…” From ‘Destiny’, we understandthat “We kill what we love/We give life only to what we hate…” From “No more clichés”, we read, “This poem is dedicated to those women/Whose beauty is in their charm, /In their intelligence, In their character, /Not on their fabricated looks…” From “A pillar of salt”, “…I think, in these hours of you, my love, burning as I do in merciless insomnia”and from “I hope to cure myself of you”: “I hope to cure myself of you in a few days. I should stop smoking you, drinking you, thinking of you. It’s possible. Conforming to the norms of today’s morality. I prescribe for myself time, abstinence, solitude/…For this is a lot like leaving the mad house only to go to the grave.” Xavier Villaurrutia is poet and playwright; one of the most prestigious literature awards in Mexico is named in his honour. Rosario Castellanos focuses on gender oppres-
sion and her work has influenced feminist theory. Salvador Novo (19041974), was a provocative and prolific cultural presence. Octavio Paz won the Miguel de Cervantes Prize and the Nobel Prize (1990) among other literary prizes. Jaime Sabines (19261999) was known as “the sniper of literature”, transforming literature into reality. Two thought provoking poems, well juxtaposed, closed out the evening:“The lives of the poets” by Jose Emilio Pacheco and “Nearing thirty” by Ruel Johnson; both read by Johnson. Pacheco, who was awarded the prestigious Cervantes prize in 2009, died in 2014. Pacheco wrote in that poem, “In poetry there’s no happy ending/Poets end up/ living their madness/Or dead from ... poverty.” *A novel by Wilson Harris set in Mexico during Easter. Responses to this author telephone (592) 2260065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com What’s happening: The Guyana Annual Magazine 2014-2015 issue in now available at Guyenterprise Ltd., Lance Gibbs and Irving Streets, Tel # 226-9874