♫♫ >>> THE UPCOMING PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.

THIS PROGRAM IS UNDERWRITTEN IN PART BY -- >> UNDERCOVER BOOKS AND GIFTS IS A PROUD SUPPORTER OF VIRGIN ISLANDS PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

IT CARRIES A SELECTION OF BOOKS AND PRODUCTS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT UNDERCOVER BOOKS.COM.

>> AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

>> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF OR ITS UNDERWRITERS.

>>> WELCOME TO "THE BOOKCASE."

I´M YOUR HOST SHAWNA RICHARDS.

I INVITE YOU TO JOIN ME TO CELEBRATE VIRGIN ISLANDS AUTHORS AND THEIR TALENT.

EACH WEEK ON "THE BOOKCASE," WE WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO A LOCAL AUTHOR AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM AND THEIR WORK.

I´M SO EXCITED TO GIVE OUR HOME GROWN STORY TELLERS A CHANCE TO HEAR THEIR STORY.

TONIGHT´S BOOK IS "ALL THIS LOVE," AND I´M SO EXCITED TO WELCOME DAISY.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

SO TELL US ABOUT WHAT BROUGHT YOU INTO THE CRAFT OF WRITING.

>> WELL, I´M A LATE BLOOMER.

I REALIZED THAT I WAS 35 YEARS OF AGE LIVING IN CANADA WITH MY FAMILY, MY HUSBAND AND TWO BOYS.

AND I WENT INTO A BOOKSTORE AND I SAW THIS BOOK WRITTEN BY A MAN FROM BARBADOS.

"THE PRIME MINISTER" WAS THE NAME OF IT.

I WAS ASTONISHED.

AND I READ THAT BOOK AND FROM THEM I ALWAYS LOOKED FOR CARIBBEAN WRITERS.

THEY HAVE INTRODUCED ME TO MY RICH HERITAGE AND INSPIRED ME TO WRITE.

YOU KNOW, I´M A LATE BLOOMER.

I WAS 35 YEARS OLD WHEN I STARTED.

>> AT THE AGE OF 35, YOU WALKED INTO THIS BOOKSTORE IN CANADA OF ALL PLACES.

>> I HAVE NEVER READ A BOOK BY A CARIBBEAN WRITER SENSE THEN.

I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL AND EVERYTHING IN SAINT THOMAS.

>> SO YOU HAD, AS A YOUNG GIRL, ATTENDING SCHOOL IN SAINT THOMAS.

>> EVERYBODY ELSE, NOBODY FROM THE CARIBBEAN.

WE READ ALL THE QUOTE, UNQUOTE CLASSICS THAT THEY TAUGHT.

>> SO YOU STARTED AT 35.

>> I STARTED AT 35.

I STARTED TAKING COURSES IN CREATIVE WRITING, POETRY WORKSHOP.

I WAS SO SMITTEN.

>> SO WHY POETRY?

>> THE POETRY I LOVE.

I LIKE THINGS THAT ARE SHORT AND SWEET, AND THAT´S WHY POETRY.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY PARTICULAR FORM THAT YOU WORK WITH, HAIKU?

>> I LIKE FREE VERSE BECAUSE I LIKE MY FREEDOM TO DO WHAT I WANT TO DO.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO I DO FREE VERSE.

>> WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO WRITE?

I HAVE READ SOME OF YOUR WORK.

I READ SOME OF THE WORK YOU PUBLISHED IN SMALL ACTS.

I HAVE WRITTEN YOUR PIECES IN MOTHERING AND MEDDLING AND INTERFERING.

AND I FIND THAT THERE IS A THEME OF, YOU KNOW, LIKE SELF-ESTEEM AND VALIDATION OF WHO WE ARE AS BLACK PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.

SO WHAT INSPIRED YOU?

>> I THINK HISTORY BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS I DIDN´T KNOW GROWING UP.

WHEN BLACK BECAME BEAUTIFUL, I JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH MYSELF.

I THINK ABOUT MY ANCESTORS, THEY INSPIRE ME TO KNOW WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH SO WE COULD BE HERE TODAY.

I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT 1932 WITH THE BIBLE TO TEACH US THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS GOD´S WILL, AND THIS IS WHAT GOD WANTS US TO DO.

>> YOU KNOW, IN KNOWING WHAT I KNOW NOW ABOUT HISTORY AND WHAT I LEARNED IN SCHOOL ABOUT HISTORY, THEY OFTEN FALL APART.

I REALIZE HISTORY IS SOMEONE´S INTERPRETATION.

>> THIS IS WHY WE HAVE TO WRITE.

BECAUSE THERE IS SO MANY NEGATIVE THINGS WRITTEN ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE.

>> I AGREE.

>> WE´RE DUMB.

WE´RE NOT HUMAN.

AND I READ ALL THIS.

SO WE HAVE TO WRITE.

WE HAVE TO TELL OUR OWN STORIES BECAUSE NOBODY IS GOING TO TELL THEM FOR US.

>> SO YOU´RE READING AND WRITING ABOUT OUR HISTORY.

>> RIGHT.

I START THIS COLLECTION THAT I´M DOING, AND IT STARTS IN 1732, AND IT ENDS IN 2017.

IN 2017, THE CHURCHES APOLOGIZED FOR SLAVERY, AND THAT WILL BE THE LAST POEM IN THE SPIRIT OF LOVE.

THEY CAME IN 2017 WHEN THEY HAD THEIR 100th, THEY CAME AND AT LAST, AT LAST.

BECAUSE IT IS A POEM THAT I HAVE IN "ALL THIS IS LOVE".

COULD I READ IT?

>> SURE.

>> IT´S CALLED REPARATIONS.

AND THE THING WITH IT IS I DIDN´T -- THE DAY THE SLAVES WERE FREED, HE DID NOT SAY HE WAS SORRY.

>> WELL, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IN YOUR WRITING AND IN BEING INSPIRED BY EVENTS, WE HAVE TO, I THINK, VIEW THINGS THROUGH THE LENS OF THE TIME THAT THEY WERE WRITTEN IN.

>> HOWEVER, ALTHOUGH THEY SAY, OH, THAT WAS THE THINKING OF THE DAY, PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT BLACK PEOPLE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE SLAVES AND THAT´S HOW GOD WANTED IT TO BE.

OKAY.

THERE WAS THE QUAKERS WHO WERE THE FIRST ABOLITIONISTS, AND THEY WERE WHITE.

AND THEY SAID THIS WAS WRONG.

IT WAS THE WRONG THING TO DO, THAT EVERYBODY HAS GOD´S LIGHT THAT SHINES WITHIN THEM, EVERY PERSON.

AND IT IS WRONG TO ENSLAVE PEOPLE LIKE THIS.

SO THEY DIDN´T THINK LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

>> SO THIS INSPIRED "REPARATIONS "REPARATIONS"?

>> SHOUT FOR FREEDOM SUMMONED HIS ARRIVAL.

BURDENED BY THE FEAR OF OIL.

HIS TIGHT LIPPED WORDS.

ALL FREE WITHIN THE ISLANDS ARE FROM TODAY EMANCIPATED.

THAT IS TO SAY FROM TODAY NO HUMAN SHALL OWN ANOTHER.

AND SO IT WAS PROCLAIMED IN A QUIET STORM OF CHOSEN WORDS WITHOUT APOLOGY, REMORSE OR REDRESS.

OR ILLUSION TO LEGAL TENDER.

FOR OUR PEOPLE ENSLAVED BY A PEOPLE ENGAGED IN THEIR PURSUITS OF LIFE, LIBERTY AND PROPERTY.

THAT´S "REPARATIONS."

>> I WAS ALMOST WAITING FOR YOU TO SAY LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

>> PROPERTY.

EVERYBODY WANTED TO OWN, OWN US.

>> AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING "REPARATIONS."

AND I THINK YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR VIRGIN ISLAND AUTHORS, WE SEE THE WEALTH OF STORIES THAT OUR PEOPLE HAVE TO TELL.

AND SOME ARE ROOTED IN HISTORY.

SOME ARE ROOTED IN THE FUTURE.

AND WHAT I´M SEEING IS THAT OUR VIRGIN ISLANDS ARE JUST SO TALENTED AND SO MUCH MORE STORIES TO SHARE.

WHAT ARE YOU READING?

WHAT IS INSPIRING YOU RIGHT NOW?

>> A LOT OF THINGS.

I´M READING JAUMS.

HE´S A JAMAICAN, AND THE JAMAICANS ARE DOING VERY WELL INTERNATIONALLY WITH POETS AND THE WRITERS.

HE WON A LOT OF AWARDS.

I´M READING THE BRIEF HISTORY.

I´M READING ANOTHER JAMAICAN.

AND THEN OF COURSE THERE IS KAMAL, AND THE OTHER DAY I WAS TO THE DENTIST OR SOMETHING, AND I SAW A YOUNG MAN.

I SAID, ARE YOU RELATED TO JARED?

HE SAID NO.

WHO´S HE?

I SAID HE´S A NOBLE PRIZE WINNER FROM SAINT LUCIA.

HE DIDN´T KNOW HIM.

AND THEN I CRIED.

I FELT SO BAD.

>> YOU DIDN´T HAVE ANY EXPOSURE TO VIRGIN ISLANDS AUTHORS AND CARIBBEAN AUTHORS.

HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR WORLD VIEW AND YOUR PERSPECTIVE WOULD HAVE BEEN FORMED IF YOU HAD THAT EARLY EXPOSURE.

>> I THINK WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A LAME BLOOMER FOR ONE THING.

THAT STARTED LONG AGO, YOU KNOW.

I WOULD HAVE HAD MORE AMBITION, WHICH I DIDN´T.

I USED TO READ A LOT OF GROWING UP ROMANCE NOVELS AND MAGAZINES.

I HAD NO AMBITION AS A YOUNG WOMAN.

I WANTED TO GO TO NEW YORK, SMOKE CIGARETTES AND DRINK MARTINIS, YOU KNOW?

YOU ARE WHAT YOU READ.

YOU KNOW?

YOU ARE WHAT YOU READ.

>> BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK NOW THAT THERE IS JUST SUCH A WEALTH OF LITERATURE AVAILABLE?

>> YES.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE FOR OUR YOUNGER STUDENTS TO HAVE THIS INFORMATION AVAILABLE?

>> I HOPE THEY DO SOMETHING IN THE SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW?

I KNOW THEY HAVE TO READ IN THE PROGRAM, BUT I´D ALSO LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, WITH LOCAL ARTISTS AND CARIBBEAN WRITERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

AND YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED IN BARBADOS AND THE OTHER ISLANDS.

IF YOU PICK UP A BOOK, THE VIRGIN ISLANDS IS NOT IN IT.

THEY´RE NOT EVEN CONSIDERED, CARIBBEAN PEOPLE.

LATELY NOW WE HAVE BEGUN TO GET CLOSER AND WHATNOT, LIKE BARBADOS HAS A LOT OF MAGAZINES.

FOR YEARS, I HAD A MAGAZINE ONCE.

IT DIDN´T LAST.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE TRIED.

BUT IT IS NOT ONE OF OUR BIGGEST.

I HOPE NOBODY CURSE ME FOR SAYING THAT, TOO.

BUT WHEN WE EXPOSE OURSELVES TO OTHER ISLANDS, THERE ARE A LOT, VERY PROFICIENT, PROFICIENT AND A LOT OF, FOR EXAMPLE, IN SAINT LUCIA, A PERSON WON A NOBLE PRIZE IN ECONOMICS.

THERE IN BARBADOS ALSO.

YOU KNOW, I WISH HER ALL THE BEST.

BUT WE NEED MORE.

SHE´S A GOOD WRITER ALSO.

SHE´S A BEAUTIFUL POET, AND I HOPE WHEN HE´S READY TO RETIRE THAT HE´LL GO BACK TO WRITING AND PROBABLY WIN SOME BIG PRIZE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> SO SPEAKING OF WRITING, WHAT IS YOUR WRITING PROCESS LIKE?

>> I DON´T EVER HAVE A PROCESS.

>> YOU DON´T?

>> I JUST WRITE.

>> SO YOU´RE PROCESSING JUST IF SOMETHING INSPIRES YOU, YOU PUT IT ON PAUPER.

>> YES, I PUT IT ON PAPER.

I HAVE A LOT OF UNFINISHED WORK.

BUT LATELY THE HURRICANES, I HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK.

AND I WANT TO DO A COLLECTION NEXT YEAR.

I WANT TO HAVE IT PUBLISHED, WHICH I STARTED TO TELL YOU ABOUT FROM 1732, A GLIMPSE OF OUR HISTORICAL WHAT HAD BEEN TRUE.

AND I´M CALLING IT "WE HAVE OWNED NOTHING."

THAT IS A POEM, IT´S CALLED DIRT.

AND I CAN READ YOU -- I CAN READ YOU SOMETHING.

AND THIS IS ONE OF YOUR OTHER PIECES.

IT´S CALLED OUR QUEENS.

>> UH-HUH.

>> AND IT´S DEDICATED TO QUEEN MARY AND QUEEN AGNIS AND ALL OF THEM.

OUR QUEENS TOOK NO CORONATION OATH, CLAIMED NO DESIGNED, PRESIDED OVER NOBODY´S PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES, DIDN´T SMILE VERY MUCH.

HANDS FOLDED WAITING FOR A SERVANT TO FETCH A GLASS OF WATER.

OUR QUEENS NEVER WORE SATIN, SILK OR CORSETTES.

OUR QUEENS WERE FIGHTERS, FOUGHT FOR THE RIGHT TO PRESIDE OVER THEIR OWN LIVES, TO EARN WAGES, TO IMPROVE LIVING CONDITIONS, TO INVEST IN THE IDEA OF TOMORROW.

OUR QUEENS LEARNED THE VALUE OF DIRT AND PLANTED SEEDS SO THAT THEIR DESCENDANTS COULD ENJOY THE PLEASURES OF OWNERSHIP, OF DIRT IN PLACES CALLED PROSPERITY AND SCOT-FREE, UPPER LOVE AND LOWER LOVE, WORK AND BEST FOR THE BETTER, PERSEVERANCE.

YES, OUR QUEENS.

>> WOW.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT A LOT OF OUR VIRGIN ISLANDS POET TRY, WE SEE THE THEME OF THE QUEENS.

>> OH, YEAH.

THEY INSPIRE ME.

THEY INSPIRE ME.

>> AND YOU KNOW IN SAINT THOMAS THERE WERE FOUR FIRES IN THE SPAN OF 30 YEARS.

AND WHAT IS CALLED THE LANGUAGE OF PLAIN.

THIS IS OUR WEAPON.

SO THEY SAID IN THE BOOK, THEY SAID NOBODY SHOWS HOW THE FIRE STARTED.

I´M SURE IT WAS ONE OF OUR QUEENS.

WE DON´T KNOW ANY, BUT THE TOOLS WERE THE WEAPONS.

>> BUT I THINK IN SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, NO ONE KNOWS HOW THE FIRE STARTED IS ALMOST LIKE TAKING AWAY THE POWER FROM THE PEOPLE WHO -- >> RIGHT.

>> YEAH.

>> IT´S JUST SOME UNINTENDED CANDLE.

NO, SIR.

>> HOW CONVENIENT.

>> AND I TRIED TO FIND OUT.

IT´S ONE OF THOSE QUEENS.

BUT NOBODY CAN SAY OR DON´T KNOW WHAT´S HERE OR HAPPENED.

EVENTUALLY I THINK I WANT TO TRY TO FIND OUT WHY.

>> SO THEY ARE SURE, LOTS OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY HOPEFULLY WATCHING THIS PROGRAM WHO FEEL THAT THEY HAVE A STORY TO TELL BUT NOT SURE HOW TO PUT IT OUT THERE.

>> A GROUP OF US BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, WE WERE DISCUSSING FORMING AN ASSOCIATION OF WRITERS AND POETS.

AND I HAD SENT OUT E-MAILS, AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT AND THEN THE PANDEMIC CAME AND WE JUST WAIT, YOU KNOW?

BUT I THINK AN ASSOCIATION WHERE YOU GET TOGETHER REALLY INSPIRED AND HELPED TO DO SOME OF THAT.

IT IS A GROUP, HE CALLS ME A CLOSET POET.

I´M SURE THEY WILL GO OUT A LOT, YOU KNOW.

BUT I THINK ONCE A WEEK THEY DO -- THEY READ THEIR WORK, AND THEY´RE VERY GOOD.

>> SO YOUR TIP TO AN ASPIRING WRITER WOULD BE JUST TO WRITE.

>> AND, FOR EXAMPLE, I HAVE A FRIEND IN SAINT THOMAS.

WE HAVE DECIDED EVERY WEEK WE SPEAK ON THE PHONE, WHY ARE YOU WRITING AND WE HELP EACH OTHER AND WHATNOT AND WE WANT TO GET THINGS PUBLISHED AND WE´RE SERIOUS ABOUT IT.

SHE´S ALSO RETIRED.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT.

>> THE PIECES THAT YOU HAD PUBLISHED, ARE YOU SELF-PUBLISHED, OR HAVE YOU TAKEN TO THE ROUTE -- >> I HAVE BEEN SUBMITTING A LOT OF STUFF.

LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS IS SELF-PUBLISHED.

WE DID THAT.

BUT WE WERE NEVER UP AND COUNSEL SELLING THE BOOK OR ANYTHING.

I PUT SOME HERE IN THE STORE AND WHATNOT.

BUT WE HAVE TO WORK HARD TO GET TOGETHER, HELP EACH OTHER AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

>> RIGHT, BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF STORIES TO TELL JUST NOT JUST ABOUT HISTORY AND SLIVERY.

>> SO I WAS READING ONE OF YOUR PIECES EARLIER.

I WAS ACTUALLY READING TWO OF YOUR PIECES, AND I WANT YOU, IF YOU DON´T MIND, TO READ FOR US -- WHAT IS IT CALLED?

FIGHTING IN HIGH HEELS.

>> OKAY.

ANOTHER THING TO -- PIECES OF MY POEMS ARE PUBLISHING THROUGH JOURNALS.

I THINK I SEND THIS TO THE STATES, AND THEY DIDN´T TAKE IT.

BUT THIS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE CARIBBEAN, WHICH IS OUT OF JAMAICA AND THIS IS THE EDITOR.

SHE USED TO LIVE HERE IN SAINT THOMAS.

THE CARIBBEAN JOURNAL PICKED THEM UP.

THERE IS ONE ONLINE, AN ONLINE JOURNAL.

I THINK THIS WAS ALSO PUBLISHED IN THAT ONE.

SHE IS A FIGHTING KIND OF WOMAN.

DEAD SERIOUS ON A MISSION.

NOBODY´S SWEETIE PIE.

BUCKETS ON HER HEAD.

RELLATED.

NOW STANDING OUT.

DOESN´T KNOW WHO OCCUIES WALL STREET.

DOESN´T WANT HER IN THEIR COUNTRY.

SHE IS A PRIZE FIGHTER, NAVIGATING THE LATEST STYLES.

ONE COLOR FOR HER SKIN COLOR.

BUT THAT, TOO, WAS NOT ON THE TEST.

SHE THROWS OCCASIONAL GLANCES AT CITY GIRLS FANCY IN HIGH HEELS, STRIKING A POSE AND LEARNED.

SO TODAY SHE´S STRUTTING HIGH HEELS, LANDING PERFECT PUNCHES ON HER PEDICURED FEET.

BUT SHE´S A PRIZE FIGHTERS, STRIKING A POSE, A SMILE.

FIRED UP READY, DEGREE AND RESUME IN GLOVED HANDS, FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE.

>> THERE IS A STORY BEHIND THAT HOME.

>> YOU KNOW, I WAS IN CHURCH.

AND I SAW THIS WOMAN FIGHTING IN HER HIGH HEELS SHOES.

THAT SHE WAS DETERMINED THAT SHE´S NOT GOING TO LOOK LIKE A COUNTRY BUMPKIN.

IT CAME TO ME THAT THIS WOMAN IS FIERCE.

SHE WANTED TO BE SUCCESSFUL SO THIS IS WHAT SHE HAD TO GO THROUGH.

>> DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU WROTE THAT?

>> MAYBE IT WAS THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO.

>> WHEN I READ THAT, I THOUGHT IMMEDIATELY THAT -- OF THE DISPARITY IN EARNINGS THAT A MAN EARNS AN DOLLAR AND A WOMAN EARNS 72 CENTS FOR EVERY DOLLAR A MAN EARNS.

I THOUGHT HOW EVEN THE MOST EDUCATED WOMAN EARNS LESS THAN AN UNEDUCATED WHITE MAN.

SO WHEN I READ THAT, THAT IS WHAT RESONATED WITH ME.

>> IT HAPPENS.

I THINK IT STEMS FROM THE CUSTOM OF WOMEN STAYING HOME AND MINDING THE CHILDREN AND THE MAN SUPPOSED TO BE THE BREADWINNER.

BUT LIFE IS NOT LIKE THAT AT ALL.

NOT AT ALL.

>> SO WHEN YOU SIT DOWN TO WRITE, AND THERE IS SO MUCH HAPPENING IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW, BUT YOUR CURRENT WRITING IS FOCUSSED ON HISTORY.

IS THERE ANYTHING NOW THAT YOU´RE SEEING HAPPENING IN THE WORLD THAT YOU ARE JOTTING DOWN ON PIECES OF PAPER SAYING, I MIGHT WRITE ABOUT THAT ONE DAY?

>> SO MANY THINGS, LOTS OF THINGS.

I DON´T EVEN WANT TO START TO THINK ABOUT DONALD TRUMP.

YOU KNOW, IT IS JUST SO SAD.

>> HOW DO YOU BALANCE -- I KNOW YOU SAY YOU ARE RETIRED.

BUT WITH ALL, I´M SURE, THE COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND THINGS YOU ARE ENGAGED IN, HOW DO YOU BALANCE WRITING AND BALANCE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED WRITING, HOW DID YOU BALANCE WRITING WITH BEING CREATIVE WITH YOUR DAY JOB?

BECAUSE I THINK THAT´S SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF ASPIRING WRITERS STRUGGLE WITH.

HOW DO THEY MAKE THE TIME TO DO ALL THESE THINGS?

>> ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE WORKING AND YOU HAVE KIDS AND A FAMILY.

YOU HAVE TO DO IT IN YOUR SPARE TIME.

ON THE WEEKENDS.

EVEN ON YOUR JOB.

JUST WRITE A LITTLE SOMETHING.

YOU KNOW?

BUT NOW I CAN DEDICATE A LOT OF TIME TO WRITING NOW BECAUSE I LIVE ALONE.

>> YOU ARE THE CO-AUTHOR OF "ALL THIS LOVE" A COLLECTION OF VIRGIN ISLANDS, POETRY AND PROSE.

AND WHEN YOU WERE PUTTING THAT TOGETHER, WHAT SORT OF PIECES WERE INSPIRING THIS BOOK?

>> WELL, IT WAS WHAT I HAD AT THE TIME.

WHAT ALL OF US HAVE ADD THE TIME.

IT IS CALLED "THIS IS LOVE."

IT IS A POEM IN THERE.

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL POEM.

WE READ SOME OF IT.

>> OKAY.

>> OH, THIS IS LOVE.

THE TREE IS LOVE.

AND THE FLOWER.

AND THE SEED.

AND THE SWORD, WHICH KEEPS THE ANKLE.

OH, THIS IS LOVE.

THE SUN IS LOVE AND THE MOON AND ITS STAR WHICH LIGHTS THE SKY.

WHEN WE ARE LOST, ALL THIS IS LOVE.

THE SKIN IS LOVE.

THE BREAST, THE ELEGANT LIMB, THE BREATH OF THE BODY, ALL THIS IS LOVE.

AND IT JUST GOES ON TO TELL YOU IN THE LAST STANZA.

IN THE NAME OF LOVE WE COME AND IN THE NAME OF LOVE WE WILL GO TO MEET THE SUN THAT WILL COME AGAIN.

TO MEET AGAIN THE OTHER.

ALWAYS AND EVER LOVE.

BUT EVERYTHING IS LOVE, THE TREES, EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW.

BEAUTIFUL.

THE WORLD IS LOVE AS YOU MAKE IT.

THE WAY YOU SHARE A LIFE TO LIVE.

THE CHAIR IS LOVE, AS IS THE MENDING.

THE PAIN IS LOVE, AS IS THE HEALING.

ALL THIS IS LOVE.

>> AND AFTER HEARING THAT -- AND AFTER HEARING THAT I HOPE MORE PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT AND READING FROM "ALL THIS IS LOVE" AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE WORKS THAT ARE CONTAINED WITHIN.

SO BEFORE WE CLOSE, ARE THERE ANY FINAL WORDS FOR OUR AUDIENCE?

>> WHAT CAN I SAY?

TRY READING LOCAL.

THAT´S THE THING.

READ LOCAL BOOKS.

CARIBBEAN PEOPLE, READ ABOUT YOURSELF.

I DON´T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN THEM UP AND READ ABOUT PLACES THAT YOU KNOW.

AND THIS IS WHAT IMPRESSED ME.

I REMEMBER THE FIRST BOOK I READ.

HE WAS DESCRIBING -- HE WAS A LITTLE BOY UNDER HOUSE LOOKING AT SOME SWORD FISH AND I COULD RELATE TO THAT.

YOU KNOW?

I WOULD ENCOURAGE, ESPECIALLY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, TO GET CARIBBEAN BOOKS IN THE SCHOOLS.

I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT.

I THINK I COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER IF I HAD STARTED AT A YOUNGER AGE.

BUT I DIDN´T KNOW BETTER.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT?

I THINK WITH THE BODY OF WORK YOU PRODUCED EVEN AS A LATE BLOOMER, YOU CERTAINLY CAUGHT UP.

>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> IT IS MY PLEASURE.

>> IT´S BEEN A PLEASURE.

IT´S BEEN A PLEASURE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR LOCAL TALENT.

COAUTHOR OF "ALL THIS IS LOVE."

AND FOR MORE INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND "ALL THIS IS LOVE" OR ANY OF THE TITLES MENTIONED ON THIS PROGRAM, VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR LOCAL AUTHORS, AND WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK WHEN WE TAKE ANOTHER BOOK OFF THE BOOKCASE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

♫♫ >>> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX.

THIS PROGRAM WAS UNDERWRITTEN IN PART BY -- >>> A PROUD SUPPORTERS OF VIRGIN ISLANDS PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

THIS INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE CARRIES A SELECTION OF BOOKS AND MORE.

VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT UNDERCOVERBOOKS.COM.

>> AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.