Dear Editor,
It is with great anticipation that I look forward for the day when poetry will take its rightful place in our communications. Dr Ian McDonald’s Sunday Stabroek column, titled ‘Poetry: The perilous art’ (August 9) has the aroma of truth. His opening statement on the use of language is in essence a biblical truth that can only be discerned by the human spirit.
Dr McDonald’s essay was a timely one. Indeed, poets are an endangered species. Not very many are called to this noble task, as we, as human beings are caught up with the issues and cares of life that sap our mental and inspirational energy at the end of our working day.
For the poet, inspiration leads the way, and indeed, many great poets have gone into exile.
It is with these thoughts in mind that I commend The Laparkan Group for its interest in Guyanese poets. They are the sponsors of the prestigious awards ceremony, Dynamic Poetry. On Friday, August 21 twenty poets will take the stage at the National Library Conference Room. They will read or recite their original works in an atmosphere that will be charged with excitement and vitality, and will certainly result in three poets rising to prominence and receiving $50,000, $30,000 or $20.000 for their performances.
So, Dr McDonald, thanks for your timely thoughts which I hope will radiate and inspire our young ones to lead the way to a world of poetry. And thanks to The Laparkan Group which has sponsored this much needed programme, and in so doing has made a difference in the lives of many young Guyanese. I look forward to meeting them.
Yours faithfully,
Vanrick Beresford
