Main content

Lorna Goodison: Jamaican Poet Laureate

Lorna Goodison explains her writing process to the BBC’s Andrea Kidd and why she’s creating a new poem for her first Emancipation Day as the island’s Poet Laureate.

Lorna Goodison has recently been appointed Poet Laureate of Jamaica and has decided to mark her first Emancipation Day in the role with a special poem.

The public holiday of Emancipation Day on the 1st of August commemorates the end of slavery in Jamaica and as a poet who feels it’s her duty to document the slave history of her native island in her work, this day is a very important one for Lorna, both professionally and personally – it’s also her birthday.

The BBC’s Andrea Kidd follows Lorna as she creates a poem fit for a nation. As someone who can spend years crafting a poem, will she meet her deadline?

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Tue 29 Aug 201721:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Tue 29 Aug 201702:32GMT
  • Tue 29 Aug 201703:32GMT
  • Tue 29 Aug 201704:32GMT
  • Tue 29 Aug 201706:32GMT
  • Tue 29 Aug 201710:32GMT
  • Tue 29 Aug 201721:32GMT