Poem from Jamaica

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Continuing to check out poets of the Caribbean… This one’s by Mervyn Eustace Morris, a poet and professor emeritus at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica.

“Peelin Orange”

Dem use to seh
yu peel a orange
perfec
an yu get new clothes

But when mi father try
fi teach me
slide de knife
up to de safeguard thumb

I move de weapon like
a saw inna mi han
an de dyamn rind
break

An if yo have de time
yu can come see mi
in mi old clothes
peelin

—Mervyn Morris

Mervyn Eustice Morris poem from Jamaica Poets of the Caribbean University of the West Indies

Bad things happened, an entire run of them that shut me down, caused me to withdraw from everything except my inner self.

One afternoon, in a hammock, I took a photo of myself. Just my legs. But there was no one to send it to. No one to understand.

I needed a sidekick so I sketched an armadillo because they’re crusty on the outside but not within. I made him my butler. Crusoe’s manservant Friday.

We began interacting—my hammock photo speaking to that critter, that critter speaking back.There’s a folder of cartoons somewhere. For now there’s just this one. (LINK)

Eventually after that I began writing novels.

I’m still a hermit, marooned you might say, but leaving my shell more and more—my inner self seeking its freedom through writing.