Celebrating World Poetry Day with Poet Eric Roach

Did you know, internationally March 21 is celebrated as World Poetry Day?

As we join the global celebration of the art, we place the spotlight on one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most prolific poets, the late Eric Merton Roach.

Roach’s works span 30 plus years.  Described as the ‘Black Yeats,’ his incredible prowess with prose has made him a prominent figure of the Caribbean Renaissance period.

Being likened to poet William Butler Yeats is no light matter, but reflective of his stature as a Caribbean literary figure.  Roach’s ability to wield traditional literary techniques effortlessly while shaping them into a Caribbean aesthetic set his many works apart.

Photo courtesy Peepal Tree Press

Eric Roach is indeed one to be celebrated for his past works and contributions to Trinidad and Tobago’s and the broader Caribbean literary archives.

Don’t know much about him?   Here are a few tidbits about this brilliant talent that was once our countryman.

• He was born in Mt. Pleasant, Tobago.
• Roach first wrote under the pseudonym Merton
• Schoolteacher, soldier, civil servant and journalist were some of his occupations.
• In addition to having anthologised poems and literary publications, Eric wrote three plays: Bello Fanto, Letter from Leonore, and A Calabash of Blood
• Eric received posthumously, the Trinidad and Tobago National Hummingbird Gold Medal in 1974.
• He was passionate about the islands coming together to form a unique Caribbean identity as opposed to splintered singular nations.
• Roach died at Quinam Bay, located on the southern coast of Trinidad.

Among the many other poets, Trinidad and the Caribbean have produced Eric Roach shines brightly.

And, while we acknowledge the contributions of Roach, we are proud of all the poets our twin-islands have produced.

In addition to demonstrating the universality of the human condition, their talents have inspired many locally and internationally.

Sources: Peepal Tree Press and Zocalo Poets