by Petamber Persaud
(Extract of an interview with Dr. Ian McDonald in September 2013, Georgetown, Guyana. McDonald is a prizewinning poet, novelist, playwright, columnist and editor; he has to his credit six collections of poems. 

He has won the Guyana Prize for Literature on three occasions. He won the Royal Society of Literature Prize for best regional novel with his first and only novel, ‘The Humming-Bird Tree’. His most recent book, ‘Selected Poems’, was shortlisted for Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize.)

McD: Derek Walcott made a big impact on me, but remember, there were all the other poets I was reading and loving: Coleridge, Keats… Then, when I discovered Gerald Manley Hopkins, for instance, who, in my time, was not well known, and here again, I was lucky to have a teacher who knew about Hopkins. And Hopkins made an enormous impression on me.
Petamber, it would take up this whole programme, mentioning the names of poets from around the world, but one I must mention is Seamus Heaney, who recently died; not that he was an influence, but I really loved reading his work.
And Martin Carter; Martin’s poetry became very, very important in my life.
PP: So, the reading is a very important lead-up to writing…
McD: And young writers should come to this realisation early…
PP: …in order to hone their skill. I’d like to go back to the book, ‘The Comfort of All Things’, which is a local production. It was produced by the Moray House Trust; everything about this book is local…
McD: …including the illustrations by Stanley Greaves, and the cover painting by Merlene Ellis.
PP: I’d like to go back to the book, and for us to look at this poem on Page 36; a poem dedicated to another outstanding Caribbean writer, Frank Collymore, titled, ‘I learnt it all in one kind meeting’, and I quote:
Write words carefully, they will last
longer than empire, they will shake our world.
Ancient and useful as the farmer’s trade
cultivation of language is an equal craft.
These words, in a way, tie in with the essence of The Guyana Prize for Literature when it was first announced by former President Desmond Hoyte, in which he said that not only are the makers of things important, but also the custodians of words and makers of ideas are just as important…
McD: Petamber, I know the words by heart:
“We must give status, stature and status to our makers of words as we give to our makers of things.”
That’s what Desmond Hoyte said; and it is so true. That’s how he introduced ‘The Guyana Prize’, so, you’re right.
And the poem; I’m glad you picked it up. It was actually written for an edition of BIM, which was honouring Frank Collymore, the great editor of BIM.
But, you know, it could have well been written for A. J. Seymour, because he was very much like Frank Collymore; the two of them were great editors. Both knew the importance of words, and the longevity of words; words well written will last forever…
PP: Bringing to mind a line from Seymour, ‘Turn these pages gently for in them lie precious things…treasured dreams…’
And he went on to describe the precious things to him… not unlike the accumulation of years of writing, years of accumulation of precious things to you in ‘The comfort of all things’. Let’s talk about ‘The comfort of all things’.
McD: One of the things that influenced me is the beauty of the world. You know, Petamber, we live every day, and sometimes take this for granted; the things we are experiencing.
One of the things I realise is that you are surrounded by things of beauty everywhere and every day. When I go up to the Essequibo, which is one of my favourite places in the world that is so full of beauty, and it enters into you. But not as far as that right here at home in my wife’s garden; I can sit in the evening as the sun goes down, and the birds will come. The sunset is different every day.
This is beauty right next to you, all the time! That, I think, people don’t appreciate as much. Life is not only about the big, significant deeds and accomplishments…
PP: I’ve deliberately kept silent on that part of your life, because it will fill many books. I would now like us to focus on the significance of this year’s ‘Guyana Prize for Literature’. Four of the five prizes were won by locally-based writers, a sort of renaissance for which we have to thank you, the established writers, and the enablers for keeping the appreciation of literature at a high level.
McD: Thank you very much, Petamber. I think there is a renaissance; it is very significant in this year’s ‘Guyana Prize’ which young Guyanese have won. And Ruel Johnson followed up his earlier win with another one; and the young lady, Cassia Alphonso, I hope she keeps it up. And the other young lady who won the drama prize: Extraordinary talent!
PP: Mosa Telford…
McD: So, it [the renaissance] is here! I would personally like to mention the work of Al Creighton, who, like yourself, writes these columns in the newspapers, which help tremendously in encouraging young writers develop.
I’d like to end by congratulating you on your columns and the work you do, and for the book on Guyanese Literature that you are bringing out quite soon. All that plays a great part, Petamber, in encouraging younger writers to take up the art and perfect it.
PP: Thank you. Thank you for noting my contribution. (To respond to this author, either call him on (592) 226-0065 or send him an email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com)

WHAT’S HAPPENING:
• The Guyana Annual 2012-2013 magazine is now available at Guyenterprise Ltd, at Austin’s bookstore and from the editor at the above contacts. This issue of the magazine is dedicated to E. R. Braithwaite. The magazine also features articles on copyright, law of intellectual property, creative industries, oral traditions of Guyana, the future of West Indian cricket and the future of books.

• Coming soon: ‘An Introduction to Guyanese Literature’ by Petamber Persaud. This 150-page-book is a rich collection of Guyanese pride and joy containing more than 100 photographs.