From the Diaspora…GUYANESE POET K.O.HARROP, GRAND PRIZE WINNER

Jun 09, 2013 News

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By Ralph Seeram

He mentioned it casually that he will publish a book of poems some day. This was after one of his poems on Guyana was used in a Kaieteur News letter section a long while back. Then about a month ago I received an email telling me that his book of poetry has been published.
Thinking it was just a book of a few pages of poems I ordered two copies. Was I shocked when I received the copies; it was 120 pages consisting of over 80 poems, on topics ranging from, “Reflections of life” “History” “Injustice”, “Resistance” “Civil rights” and of course, a chapter on Guyana.
At a time when the letter columns are filled with comments on the standard of local writers and poets, Kingsley, or to use his formal title, Dr. Kingsley Ormonde Harrop-Williams, has demonstrated that Guyana can  produce the best poets in the world. He won the National Library of Poetry, North American open Poetry Contest a few years ago.
Dr. Harrop-Williams who migrated from Guyana a few decades ago to the U.S. is a Civil Engineer. One normally does not associate a civil engineer with being a poet. Kingsley proves to be an accomplished poet, and I suggest you should get your hands on a copy.
His poems run the gamut of subjects. Lessons from History, deals with American history including his grand prize winning poem. “Unrest Sure Abode” speaks about America’s founding fathers George Washington, Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson who sought freedom from England by cutting the chains, but used the same chains to enslave the Native Indians and Africans.
Quoting the book’s editor” Unrest Sure Abode” is a shining example of accomplished elegance that meticulously carves out a disturbing image of the United States as seen my all minorities”.
Chapters two and three deal with American politics, the Iraqi war, fraudulent elections that put George Bush in power, illegal detention at “Guantorturemo Bay”, the election of Barack Obama.
The book’s blurb sums it up like this, ‘the Poetry of K O Harrop shows the beauty and significance of poetry in telling life stories”. “The poem teaches you new lessons and creates new emotions. It causes you to examine your comforts and discomforts with the subject.
No Guyanese, I think, will write poems or novels without referring back to their roots and Dr. Harrop-Williams is no exception. He has dedicated an entire chapter, “The Magnificent Province” comprising of some twenty-five poems on Guyana and Smythfield, New Amsterdam, Berbice, Guyana where he grew up.
This section is my favorite, because many Guyanese like me can relate to, especially since I grew up in Smythfield and Kingsley lived only two doors from me. The cover of the book displays a roaring Kaieteur Falls to which he dedicated a poem.
At first a deafening roar breaks the air
Then man and beast stop dead with open-mouthed stare
A towering wall of water, still a single drop
Of the russet Potaro, on the sanctum’s top…
Other topics local in nature include Guyana, Roraima, Birth of Guyana (“you know the folks in London, were ready to let Jagan roll etc), the Emigrant and Re Migrant,  Destruction of the Amerindian Life. “The Last Import” deals with the demise of the late President Forbes Burnham, (‘The Kabaka lay with an ailing throat, in bed in Stabroek Town….) how his ban on certain imports may have cost him his life.
My favorite “Smythfield” talks of the poet growing up in New Amsterdam and Smythfield.
Smythfield was a wonderful place to grow up free and wild
Now Smythfield is not the place to be a carefree child
No better place for children no matter where you seek……
Still the innocence is one to be told
As it was born at emancipation in the days of old
He talks about his mischievous boyhood days “Khadar House”, race prejudice against “Putagee” and his brother Dacta employing fighting skills to survive. Then there are some Berbice proverbs eloquently put in verse and translation
Susu Susu ah mek bakra batty bite
Those in charge fear secret gatherings….
I think the most heartwarming part was that the book was reserved for his mother whose sacrifices made him a success today.
Selfless, angelic, determined,
And not a beggar be
Each penny pinch from food and clothes
Covered a high school fee…
The book’s editor reminds us that we should not take the poems at their literal meaning but…study every syllable, nuance, connotation to understand the living, breathing mystery of the poems. Dr Harrop-Williams’ book of poems should be used as a textbook in the English/Literature curriculum in Guyana, at both high school and University levels.

Ralph Seeram can be reached at email: Ralph [email protected]

 

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