Readings by Lorna Goodison (1996)

Mervyn Solomon introduces the program and Dr. Sandra Paquet of the University of Miami English Dept., who introduces Jamaican writer Lorna Goodison. The reading is held at Books and Books bookstore in Miami Beach. Jamaican writer Lorna Goodison reads a poem from her collection entitled To Us, All Flowers Are Roses: "Some Things You Do Not Know About Me." Goodison next reads two poems from Selected Poems: "She Walks Into Rooms" and "Guinea Woman." Goodison reads her poetry: "Name Change: Morant Bay Uprising" and "Love Song to My Great-Grandmother Leanna." She then reads two poems from her book Turn Thanks: "This is My Father's Country" and "Turn Thanks to Miss Mirry" (about a "helper" the family had when she was a child; "she didn't like the English language and the English language didn't like her") and "The Sleeping Zemis." (Zemis are amulets representing the Arawak pantheon of gods.) Goodison reads more poetry from Selected Poems: "Shame My Lady" (about a native Jamaican plant), "Broomweed," a poem beginning "She doesn't put out for just anyone," "Sunflower Pussies," "This is a Hymn," and an untitled reading about "medicinal silence." Goodison reads her poetry: "The Domestic Science of Sunday Dinner" and "White Birds." Goodison tells an anecdote about pigeons and thanks the audience; and Sandra Paquet concludes the program.