Introduction by Lynne Macedo

It is always a pleasure to introduce a new collection of work such as this Anthology of Contemporary Guyanese Poetry, and what makes this particular role enjoyable is to discover that so many writers from Guyana still use poetry as their medium of choice.Whilst the popularity of poetry has continued to decline in many parts of the world, this anthology clearly demonstrates that the poetic form remains a vibrant and compelling force in Guyana and,

indeed, throughout much of the Caribbean. Many of the greatest writers from this region have used poems to chronicle the Caribbean experience – Kamau Brathwaite; Aime Cesaire; Una Marson; Derek Walcott; and Guyana’s own Martin Carter, to name but a few- a literary tradition which continues to evolve and expand through the voices of this latest generation of poets. As Paula Burnett has so aptly commented: “…what the (Caribbean) poets are agreed on is that poetry matters”, and this new collection of work bears testament to the continuing power of poetry to move, inspire and motivate both its writers and its readers alike.
The work of the twenty-one poets in this anthology provides the reader with a new look at Guyanese identity from a twenty-first century perspective, as well as examining more universal themes such as the complexities of human relationships or the exploration of race and ethnicity. Guyanese writing has long been characterised with a close engagement in politics and social issues, and many of the poems in this collection continue that tradition of questioning and challenging facets of society that are perceived as being ambivalent towards the suffering of the poor and the dispossessed. Unsurprisingly, the violent history of the Caribbean continues to provide material with which several of the poets engage as does, in complete contrast, the natural beauty of the region’s landscape, flora and fauna. There is also a strong female presence in the anthology, which through its lightness of touch and measured control of tone, o0ffers a striking contrast to the poetry of their male counterparts.
The range of poems which form this new collection are as diverse as the writers themselves, both in the ways in which language is used and particularly in their creative development of form. Whilst the canonical tradition of poetry has long been eclipsed by the innovative work of writers from the Caribbean, the notions of what a poem should consist of continues to be challenges throughout this collection. Contemporary society surrounds us with many art forms that are highly poetic in nature – from rap music to advertising ‘jingle’s, or football chants to political slogans. By working with such frameworks and stretching them into new poetic dimensions, the writers in this anthology are able to speak directly to today’s reader in a format that can be easily recognized and related to.
Of course, as with all anthologies this one can only offer the reader a limited selection of the kind of work each of these poets is able to offer. Nevertheless, if you previously thought that poetry was something elitist and not for you, this anthology should make you think again.