GEORGE Goddard is better known in St. Lucia as a trade unionist and industrial relations practitioner. However, he has been known in local literary circles as a poet from the late sixties. His “Fig Vet” was one of the first popular Kwéyòl poems. He studied at St. Mary’s College, the St. Lucia Teachers’ College and holds an MBA from the Cave Hill School of Business, UWI.
After many years, he has now published his first collection of poetry titled “Interstice.” It is attractively designed by artist Raphael ‘Rinvelle’ Philip, with cover illustration by Alwyn St Omer Sr. It contains poems both in English and in Kwéyòl. The work shows that Goddard must be placed among leading St. Lucian authors. His themes, styles and vivid portrayal of St. Lucian life and landscape make this a remarkable collection, finding a certain place in the canon of St. Lucian literature.
Goddard’s work has appeared in Link (one of the earliest St. Lucian literary periodicals); international journals like The Missing Slate, ArtsEtc, Tongues of the ocean; in Roseau Valley, a local collection of poems and art (2003), and in the latest St. Lucian anthology of poems and art, Sent Lisi (2014).
On Tuesday Goddard was the featured poet in The Laureate’s Chair, the monthly programme organized by the St. Lucia Writers’ Forum at the Castries Central Library. A small but appreciative crowd heard the poet read from his new collection which was on sale. He also read some poems of Derek Walcott.
The book, printed by The Document Centre, will soon be available at the Folk Research Centre and The Yard Bookshop.
