Guanahani, My Love

The preface to Marion Bethel’s prize-winning poetry collection explains that it was written in response to the 1992 celebration of 500 years since Columbus landed in The Bahamas. As such it feels like it not only fights against this history but reclaims the island heritage for its people. It is a collection that is full of nature, legends, and love with women and/or mothers at the center of many, yet also references colonialism and slavery. Sometimes the poems are short with one-word lines, while the longest is barely a page, and the latter worked the best for me. There is a rhythm to many that rewards reading out loud and when Bethel uses rhymes it is in a variety of ways. Favorites are probably too many to mention but include Reggae Prophecy, Jujube Dreams, Miss Jane’s Hands, In the Shallow Seas, Guanahani my love, Blood Moon and Life’s Gamble. A joy to read.