Interweaving reminiscences of his Caribbean childhood with incisive observations on modern young people, an award-winning poet presents forty-four poems that explore the theme of diversity in sections on growing up, nature, change, the magic of myths, and a society unwilling to embrace diversity.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 6 Up. Poet, novelist, teacher, Berry?born in Jamaica and an emigre to England at age 23?brings his two worlds together in this evocative, vivacious, and poignant collection. A few of the poems have appeared elsewhere, but here they assume a connected importance to others in a particular section. The selections in "Bits of Early Days" are the reminiscences of a Caribbean childhood and have a nostalgic shine to them. "Look, No Hands" are poems about the natural world?particularly the sparkling sun of Jamaica. "Trap of a Clash" collects poetry about the haves and have-nots of both the islands and the UK. "Watching a Dancer" is the poet's look at his own "two-culture" self, and "Fish and Water Woman" takes his memories and infuses them with love, myth, and mystery. In spite of the adult sensibilities, the poems will have direct appeal for young people, particularly those experiencing culture shock, discrimination, and, perhaps, a confusing disdain for a childhood spent elsewhere mitigated by happy memories. Skillful economy of expression strengthens the poet's messages and the lilt of his Caribbean voice softens their realities. The book has been designed with a brilliantly colored cover emphasizing the African and island heritage that underlies Berry's view of his two worlds?one so very exotic and uninhibited, and the other dark and unforgiving.?Marjorie Lewis, formerly at Heathcote School, Scarsdale, NY
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 6^-10. This collection of 46 poems by a distinguished Jamaican writer who now lives in England is divided into five sections that draw from both the author's childhood in the Caribbean and his adult life and work in the United Kingdom. Nature is celebrated, cultural conflict is powerfully observed, diversity is welcomed and saluted, and love offers recurring opportunity for redemption. Often lyrical, sometimes topical, a few of the pieces are more polemic than poem ("Child-Body Starving Story," for example), but they remain passionate nevertheless. Berry speaks with wit and warmth in a variety of poetic voices, including narrative and dramatic, and he employs a variety of forms, from free verse to haiku. And as always, he demonstrates an extraordinary gift for richly imaginative simile and metaphor: on a sunny day, overcoats "were guests overstayed"; rain is "the sea the sky throws"; and "love is like roundness of a running wheel over a bumpy road or one simply smooth like steel." Berry's language is so sweetly enticing and his rhythms so exuberant that the impulse to read his poetry aloud becomes irresistible. Michael Cart
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