>>> 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, THIS INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE CARRIES A SELECTION OF BOOKS, GIFTS AND FAIR TRADE PRODUCTS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.UNDERCOVERBOOKS.COM.

♫♫ >> AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

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

♫♫ >>> WELCOME TO "THE BOOKCASE."

I´M YOUR HOST, SHAWNA RICHARDS, A SOMETIMES WRITER AND LONG TIME READER.

I INVITE YOU TO JOIN US.

EVERY WEEK IN THE BOOKCASE WE WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO A LOCAL AUTHOR AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM AND THEIR WORK AND A STORY TELLER LIVES IN EACH OF US AND WE WANT TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO TELL THEIR STORY.

SO I´M SO EXCITED TO WELCOME IN LAWYER RA JACOB.

WELCOME TO THE "THE BOOKCASE."

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

>> I HAVE BEEN READING YOUR POETRY, AND I HAVE BLOWN AWAY.

AND I WANT TO TALK AS A WRITER.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST SAY, I AM LAWYER RA JACOB, I AM A WRITER?

>> THAT IS AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

IN MY MIND, I HAVE ALWAYS SAID I AM A WRITER OR INCLUNED TOWARDS WRITING.

AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE I SEE WRITING AS NOT JUST A COMMITMENT TO PEN AND PAPER OR TO KEY BOARD.

FROM FINGER TO TEE BOARD.

BUT I SEE IT AS OBSERVATION, AND AS A YOUNG GIRL, I DID A LOT OF THAT.

I DID A LOT OF OBSERVATION, A LOT OF EAVINGS DROPPING, AND I REMEMBER WHERE I LIVED IN ANTIGUA, LYING IN THE TALL GRASS, AND JUST ENJOY IT, AND ALSO, I GROW UP IN A VERY LARGE, RICH ENVIRONMENT.

OF COURSE, PROVERBS FLY ALL AROUND, YOU KNOW, YOU HEAR ALL THOSE THINGS, AND YOU HEAR THE ANIMATED STORY TELLING, AND I THINK ONE THING THAT REALLY STUCK WITH ME, EVEN BEYOND THAT, WAS MY EXPOSURE TO LITERATURE.

READING STUFF SUCH AS POETRY.

I CAME FROM A WORLD WHERE WE RECITED A LOT.

WE RECITED A LOT OF POETRY.

AND THE LEVEL OF THE ESTABLISH POETS, LIKE KELLY, AND KEATS, AND HE WAS MY FAVORITE.

HE WAS MY FAVORITE BECAUSE I THINK HE TOO LIKED NATURE.

AND BEYOND THAT, IT´S JUST WHAT HE DID WITH WORDS, YOU KNOW, HOW HE JUST COLORED THINGS UP, AND I REMEMBER THIS POEM, THE DAFFODILS, AND I JUST LOVE THAT.

AT SOME POINT, I DECIDED TO TRIAL MY HAND AT SOMEONE, AND I WROTE MY OWN POEMS BETWEEN THE AGE OF 9 AND 11.

AND I THINK AT THAT POINT, I COMMITTED FOR THE FIRST TIME TO WRITING SOMETHING.

BUT OVERALL, I FELT MY INCLAN RATION TO SOLITUDE, MY INCLINATION OF RESECTION AND OBSERVATION, THESE THINGS, I THINK, EDGED ME INTO WRITING.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT NATURE, AND YOUR YOUNGER SELF.

A NATURE SOMETHING THAT STILL INSPIRES YOU TO WRITE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY, WHERE I LIVE IN ST. THOMAS, I VIRTUALLY LIVE IN THE BUSH.

SO NIGHT TIME, BETWEEN 5:30, ESPECIALLY NOW, AND 7:00, IT´S SO EXCITING.

THE CRICKETS AND THE FROGS AND THE NIGHT BIRDS.

YOU KNOW, IT´S LIKE A CACOPHONY OF SOUND.

AND I WRITE ABOUT THAT, AND ONE TIME, I WAS TIRED AND I JUST WENT TO LAY DOWN FOR A BIT, AND THERE WAS JUST THE SOUND -- THE TREE FROGS, AND THE CRICKETS, AND I MUST HAVE DOSED OFF.

AND WHEN I WOKE UP, THE SOUND CONTINUED, AS IF NOTHING HAD DISTURBED THEM.

>> WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE INFLUENCE OF -- WORDS WERE -- OTHER CLASSICAL WRITERS, WHAT EXPOSURE DID YOU HAVE TO CARIBBEAN VOICES?

>> I REMEMBER THERE WAS A BOOK THAT WE READ CALLED THE NELSON -- AND FOR THE MOST PART, THE EXPOSURE WAS MINIMAL.

THE EMPHASIS IS REALLY ON THE ESTABLISH POETS AND SO FORTH.

AND WE DIDN´T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE SAYING, AND THE CARIBBEAN GIRL DIDN´T HAVE AN INTEREST IN THOSE KIND OF THINGS, BUT WHAT WAS OF INTEREST TO ME WAS THE LANGUAGE.

THE IMAGERY, THE DESCRIPTIVE DETAILS, THE FIGURATIVE MOVEMENTS THAT WERE HAPPENING, AND I THINK THAT WAS MORE OF A DRAW FOR ME.

AND THOUGHT I WAS EXPOSED, AND THROUGH THE TRADITION, THE STORIES.

THE EMPHASIS WAS ON OTHER PEOPLE´S LITERATURE, AND NOT OUR OWN.

AND I THINK ALSO THAT IS PERHAPS ONE OF MY BIGGEST INTERESTS IN WRITING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR LIVED EXPERIENCE THAT WE HAD, WE ALSO BECOME THE AUTHORS OF THAT LIVED EXPERIENCE.

>> OUR STORY.

>> YEAH, SO THAT PEOPLE COMING AFTER YOU CAN HAVE A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.

>> SO ARE YOU A FULL TIME WRITER?

HAVE YOU BEEN A FULL TIME WRITER?

>> YEAH, I CAN SAY THAT NOW.

>> NOW, BEFORE, WERE YOU FULL TIME?

>> NO, BEFORE THAT I COULD SAY A PART TIME WRITER.

AND BECAUSE I -- I HAD A FULL TIME JOB.

I TAUGHT PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

I TAUGHT PART TIME AT THE UNIVERSITY, AND ALSO FAMILY, SO WRITING HAD TO FIT ALONG THOSE AROUND WRITING, BECAUSE I´M RETIRED.

>> WHEN YOU WERE TEACHING, AND CHA IS YOUR EXPERTISE?

>> I WILL GIVE YOU ONE GUESS.

>> AS AN ENGLISH TEACHER, YOUR EXPERIENCES, YOUR OWN EXPOSURE, DID YOU TRY TO INTRODUCE THAT WORK IN A CLASSROOM?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE IS AT WHICH TIME, FOR INSTANCE, I JUST -- I LOVE HER WORK.

ONE OF THE SUBJECTS THAT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO HER IS MIGRATION.

AND TO ME AS WELL.

BEING A DAUGHTER OF MIGRATION, AND ALSO, A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, A VIRGIN ISLANDS WRITER, AND JUST A DIFFERENT KIND OF THING.

WHILE I WAS TEACHING, AND OF COURSE, ANTHOLOGY OF A CARIBBEAN WRITER.

>> YEAH, YOUR WORK IS AVAILABLE.

AND IN FACT, A CARIBBEAN WRITING, I THINK IN THE 32nd EDITION, I HAVE A BOOK REVIEW IN THAT.

AND IN THE -- I THINK I HAVE A POEM, AND THE UP COMING ONE, TWO OF MY POEMS WERE ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION.

>> IS THAT YOUR PREFERRED GENRE?

>> I DON´T LIKE TO CLAIM A GENRE, BECAUSE I DO LIKE TO JUMP AROUND.

I DO LIKE TO WRITE FICTION ALSO.

SOMETIMES I WRITE ESSAYS.

SO FOR ME, I PREFER NOT TO BE STUCK IN A GENRE.

I SO ENJOY LITERATURE.

I WHICH EVERYONE THAT AT THE TIME.

I JUST POUR MYSELF INTO IT.

FROM WRITING POETRY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF POETS, IF I´M WRITING FIRKS FICTION.

WHAT I´M KRIING NOW IS NOT FICTION, OR POEM.

IT´S ABOUT A BOOK "CAST".

>> WHICH IS VERY MUCH A STORY OF MIGRATION.

>> YEAH, AND SHE HAS A BOOK THAT IS MORE POINTED THAN THAT.

>> THE OTHER SON.

>> YEAH, AND I´M A GREAT FAN OF HERS.

THAT IS WHAT I´M READING NOW.

>> SO YOU HAVE A POEM CALLED GOING AWAY WITHOUT SHOES.

THAT WHEN I READ IT, IT RESONATED SO WITH ME.

I COULD PICTURE THE MOTHER IN MY HEAD.

I COULD PICTURE SUCH A SIFD IMAGE OF HER HAIR AND DRESS AND JEWELRY, AND I COULD SEE HER GETTING READY FOR HER TRIP.

WHY DON´T YOU SHARE "GOING AWAY WITHOUT SHOES" WITH OUR AUDIENCE.

>> THAT PARTICULAR POEM CAPTURES SOME OF THE MORE PROFOUND THINGS OF MIGRATION, ONE OF WHICH IS SEPARATION.

ONE I LIKE TO EXPERIMENT WITH IN POETRY, IMAGERY.

I HAVE A LOT OF FUN WITH THAT.

SO I TRY MY HAND AT IT.

GOING AWAY WITHOUT SHOES.

SHE LEFT HOME ON A SUNDAY LOOKING NICE, NICE.

JUST IN HER BEST CHURCH CLOTHES.

MOTHER RESEMBLED ONE OF THOSE AMERICAN WOMEN IN THE BOOK.

EXCEPT FOR COLOR.

VERY PINKISH WHITE, SHE BLACK LIKE MIDNIGHT.

MOTHER WORE A PINK FITTING DRESS, V NECK, V BACK, A STRING OF WHITE PEARLS HUG HER SLENDER NECK.

AND WHITE EAR DROPS CLUTCHED HER EAR LOBES.

SHE CARRIED HER PINK HAT IN HAND.

HER BROWN PAPER PURSE TOO TIGHT.

TOO FRESH TO DISTURB.

MOTHER TOUCHED TWO BROTHERS ON THE HEAD AND SAID NOTHING.

LIKE THE TIMES WHEN SHE´S IN A GOOD MOOD.

SHE FLUFFED THE FACE OF MY OFFICER AND ME.

SHE SAID BE GOOD GIRLS.

ALSO LISTEN TO YOUR AUNT FANNY.

I WATCHED HER GAZE AT SOMETHING FAR AWAY AS SHE SPOKE.

HER EYES FULL AND GLASSY.

I WATCHED HER FEET.

EVERY NOW AND THEN, SHE KEEP EASING THEM IN AND OUT OF THE WHITE HEELED NARROW TOED SHOES.

ONCE MOTHER SAID SHE HAD HER DUCK FEET.

DUCK FEET, BROAD, FLAT, WEBBED FEET.

CAN´T FIT IN POINTED TOE SHOES.

THE PEOPLE SIGNAL READINESS TO BOARD THE PAN AM JET.

MOTHER WALKED TIGHTLY, HER STOCKING FEET CARRYING HER LIKE PACKED CORN IN A BAG.

YOU GO WITHOUT SHOES, I ASKED?

THAT IS WHEN SHE STOPPED IN HER TRACKS AND SHE WIGGLED HER FEET, HER WHEAT FEET INTO THE NARROW PUMPS.

AND DID NOT LOOK BACK.

NOT EVEN ONCE, NOT EVEN FROM THE TOP OF THE DRIVEWAY AT THE ENT RANS OF THE JET PLANE.

THAT DAY WAS THE LAST TIME I SAW HER FACE.

BUT I SEE HER ALL THE TIME NOW.

AT LEAST THE BACK OF HER.

LAST NIGHT, IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT, SHE CAME, AND LEFT QUICKLY.

SHE NEVER CHANGED HER CLOTHES.

AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, STILL IN THAT PINK DRESS.

STILL WEARING WHITE PEARLS AND EXCITE EAR DROPSES STILL WITH HER PAPER CURLS IN PLACE, AND HAT IN HAND.

BUT SHE HAS NO FEET.

NO FEET AT ALL.

>> WHEN I READ THIS POEM, THE ENDING WAS SO UNEXPECTED BECAUSE WE GET A PICTURE OF A WOMAN WHO IS VERY NICELY DRESSED AND YOU´RE SENSING A FAREWELL BUT SHE´S NOT COMMITTING TO A FAREWELL.

BUT SHE GETS ON THE PLANE.

>> YEAH, AND SHE IS ALSO KIND OF LIKE A APPARITONION.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH, IF SHE COMES BACK, IT AND MAKES YOU WONDER, IS IT REAL OR NAGEED.

>> OR DREAM LIKE, YEAH.

>> I LOVE THAT, AND JUST YOUR TALENT FOR JUST CREATING THAT RICH PICTURE.

SO THE POEM WAS A STORY OF MIGRATION.

>> YEAH, INDEED.

>> DOES THAT INFORM A LOT OF YOUR OTHER POETRY?

>> YEAH, I WOULD SAY, THE TOPIC -- WELL, THE THEME OF SEPARATION IS ONE THAT I THINK ABOUT A LOT.

QUITE OFTEN WHEN YOU SPEAK ABOUT MIGRATION, WE ARE INTO THE MAIN CALLING.

YOU KNOW, WHO BELONGS, WHO DOES NOT BELONG, AND WE DON´T THINK ABOUT THE HUMAN THINGS.

LIKE, WHAT HAPPENS IN MY GRIGS?

PEOPLE ARE SELL BRITTED.

MOTHER FROM CHILDREN.

YOU KNOW, MOTHERS FROM CHILDREN.

HUSBANDS FROM WIVES.

AND THE VERY THING THAT MAKES US HUMAN, THAT MAKES US PEOPLE, AND ABLE TO CONNECT, WE SELDOM TOUCH ON THAT, BECAUSE WE ARE SO BUSY LOOKING AT ECONOMIC FACTORS AND THINGS, WHO IS COMING, WHO IS TAKING AWAY -- RATHER THAN THE PEOPLE BEHIND IT.

>> THAT IS ALL THE ELEMENTS.

>> RIGHT, AND LOOK AT THE PEOPLE.

>> YEAH, AND LOOK AT THE PEOPLE, AND I BELIEVE THAT SEPARATION EMERGES, WE BEGIN TO SEE THERE IS PAIN, THERE IS PAIN IN SEPARATION, EVEN WHEN YOU COMMIT TO A DREAM LIKE MOTHER COMING BACK.

MAYBE SHE WAS NEVER REALLY COMING BACK.

BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHEN YOU LEAVE, IT´S DEATH LIKE.

YOU MAY NEVER COME BACK.

AND SOMETIMES IT´S HARD TO COME BACK.

>> AND SOMETIMES IT IS HARD TO COME BACK, AND SOMETIMES IF YOU DO COME BACK, YOU´RE NOT THE SAME PERSON.

SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS, ALL OF THOSE ELEMENTS.

>> THEY MIGHT BE WHY HE DIDN´T HAVE FEET.

>> PROBABLY.

>> AND YOUR WORK HAS BEEN FEATURED IN BEYOND THE LONG LINES, WHICH I BELIEVE WAS AN ANTHOLOGY INSPIRED BY OUR HURRICANE EXPERIENCES, AND YOU WROTE A PIECE CALLED SEARCHING FOR LIGHT.

I LOVE YOUR USE OF LANGUAGE WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT -- ATOP HER HEAD, I SAID, I GET THIS.

SO SEARCHING FOR LIGHT BY ELAINE JACOBS.

ITEM US WHAT INSPIRED THE POEM?

>> I THINK THE HURRICANE DID AS WELL -- AS YOU KNOW, IN THE AFTER LIFE OF THE AMERICA, WE ALL PLUNGED INTO DARKNESS.

SO WE HAVE TO FIGHT WAYS TO THINK, AND WAYS TO LOOK AROUND, AND THE LAMP USED TO BE A WAY TO PREVENT LIGHT WHEN YOU DIDN´T HAVE ELECTRICITY.

ALL THOSE THINGS COME TOGETHER IN THE POEM.

THE IMMEDIACY OF LIGHT, AND SEARCHING, LOOKING AROUND, AND THE INCONVENIENCE WHEN YOU DON´T HAVE IT.

ALL THOSE THINGS CAME TOGETHER FOR ME.

>> IF YOU CAN CARE SEARCHING FOR LIGHT -- >> I DON´T HAVE SEARCHING FOR LIGHT HERE BUT -- >> YOU HAVE ANOTHER FAVORITE TO SHARE?

>> YEAH, YES, YES.

THIS ONE IS QUITE DIFFERENT, AND IT´S A FUN POEM.

I SOMETIMES ENJOY WRITING FUN POEMS, AND THIS ONE, I ENTITLED WHITE RASTA MAN.

>> I NOTICE IT´S A "W" AND A "R." >> YEAH.

>> IS THAT INTENTIONAL?

>> IT IS INTENTIONAL.

BECAUSE THE PERSON WHO INSPIRED THIS HAPPENS TO HAVE BEEN A WHITE PERSON, SOMEONE THAT I MET, AND I DID JOKE HAVE HIM, AND SAY, YOU´RE A RASTA MAN, NO, BECAUSE HE HAD LOCKS AND SO FORTH.

REALLY, IT´S ABOUT -- IT´S ABOUT MIGRATION, AND PEOPLE MOVEMENT.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU MOVE TO A PLACE, YOU ALSO BECOME A PART OF THAT PLACE.

>> IT SUITS YOU.

>> YEAH, THIS POEM, THE WORD WRASTA MAN BECAME A PART OF THE PLACE.

>> LET´S HEAR IT.

>> HE USED TO BE A WHITE MAN.

ST. THOMAS SUN BLACKENED HIS TEXASAN SKIN, CONSCIOUS, REGGAE, DREAD LOCKED HIS BLEACH BLOND HAIR.

CONSTRUCTION WORK TENSE HIS MUSCLES, SCRATCH FROM A PAPER, FIRE ON HIS MOUTH CAUSES WATER TO SPRING FROM HIS BODY.

HE USED TO BE A WHITE MAN.

NOW HE´S A WRASTA MAN.

EXTEND THAT MAN.

>> I´M SURE HE WOULD AGREE.

WHAT IS YOUR PRACTICE OF ALL THE IMAGES AND LANGUAGE ON TO THE STAGE?

>> FOR QUITE A WHILE, IT WAS PEN AND PAPER.

EVEN WHEN I HAD ACCESS TO KEYBOARDS, I FOUND OUT I WOULD STILL -- I WROTE ON YELLOW PADS, AND THEN -- IN FACT, UP TO KNOW, I STILL HAVE SOME LITTLE BOOKS I HAVE STUFF IN THAT I WRITE.

AND NOW, I GO DIRECTLY TO THE COMPUTER, AND THAT´S -- THAT IS SO LIBERATING.

IT´S EASIER.

YOU CAN HAVE NEW VERSIONS.

YOU CAN CUT AND PASTE.

I LOVE IT.

>> TECHNOLOGY HAS ENHANCED.

>> A WRITER.

>> ANY FAVORITE PIECES YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH OUR AUDIENCE?

>> I THINK SO.

I WILL SHARE ONE FROM THE COLLECTION, ALL THIS IS LOVE, A COLLECTION OF VIRGIN ISLANDS POETRY ART AND PROSE.

I WILL TELL YOU, WE DECIDED AT SOME POINT TO HAVE A PROJECT, THAT WE SAW GATHERING TOGETHER.

THE BOOK WAS COMP RISED OF -- A PROFESSOR AT UVI, DAISY LA FONT, I THINK SHE WAS A GUEST ON YOUR PROGRAM.

>> THE GROUP ORGANICALLY CAME TOGETHER, AND CREATED A VOLUME OF POETRY AND PROSE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ENJOY.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

>> WHAT IS THE TITLE OF THE PIECE YOU´RE GOING TO SHARE WITH US.

>> SHE WHO LAID PAPER FLOWERS, AND THIS PARTICULAR POEM IS KIND OF LIKE A CHRISTMAS POEM.

IT´S A POEM ABOUT HOW A TRADITION IS PASSED ON.

EVERY TWO NIGHTS BEFORE CHRISTMAS, I WATCH MY MOTHER MAKE PAPER FLOWERS, CRIMP EDGES, PLACED SILVER TIPPED DESIGNS ON TO CREPE PAPER.

ROSES ARE MY FAVORITE.

RED, BURNT ORANGE, GRAPE PURPLE, DELICATE COCOA AND WHITE.

I LIKE SEE HER CUT AND CURL PETALS.

CUP THE MIDDLE WITH HER THUMBS AND REACH THEM TIGHT AROUND THE VEINS OF COCONUT FRONDS.

I HEAR HER CHUCKLE.

THEN I LOOK AND SEE HER HEAD TILTED IN SATISFACTION.

WITH HER CREATION, NO ONE NOTICES.

I TOO CAUGHT AND CURL PETALS.

CUP THE MIDDLE WITH MY THUMBS, ARRANGE THEM TIGHT AROUND THE VEINS OF COCONUT FRONDS, CHUCKLE.

I TILT MY HEAD IN SATISFACTION WITH MY CREATION.

THIS IS WHAT MY MOTHER AND HER MOTHER DID EVERY TWO NIGHTS BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

>> THE TRADITION.

OF THE FAMILY HABITS AND PRACTICES.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

>> SO PASS WE CLOSE, AND YOU SHARED SO MUCH WITH US, AND I SO APPRECIATE YOU SHARING WITH OUR AUDIENCE, YOUR APPROACH OF LANGUAGE AND LOVE OF LANGUAGE AND HOW IT CREATES VIVID IMAGES FOR US TO ENJOY, WE HAVE SOMEONE WATCHING THE SAME SHOW WHO -- MAY HAVE SOMETHING SAY, BUT NOT QUITE SURE HOW TO EXPRESS HIMSELVES.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THE WANNABE WRITER OUT THERE?

>> IF YOU WRITE, YOU HAVE TO LIVE IT.

TO ME, THAT IS JUST THE OTHER PART OF IT, AND EVERYTHING I CAN GET MY HAND ON.

´S SO MUCH INSIGHT THAT ONE CAN GET FROM READING AND, I ALSO ENJOY LISTENING TO PODCASTS AND THE GREAT THING ABOUT THAT, IS THAT IT FEATURES A WIDE VARIETY OF POEMS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

AND FROM ALL AGES.

YOU KNOW, FROM OLD TO YOUNG, CONTEMPORARY TO NOT CONTEMPORARY.

>> SO THE WOULD BE WRITER, THE WOULD BE CREATIVE OUT THERE, SHOULD EXPOSE THEMSELVES TO DIVERSE VOICES?

>> YEAH, YES, YES, YES, IF YOU WANT TO GET BETTER AT WHAT YOU DO.

THEN LISTENING TO A DISCUSSION AND CRAFTING, OBSERVING WHAT OTHER PEOPLE CAN DO TO BE TREMENDOUSLY INSIGHTFUL AND HELPFUL.

AND THOSE ARE THE WORDS WE HOPE THE WOULD BE WRITERS THROUGHOUT WILL TAKE A HEART.

READ, LISTEN, WRITE.

>> OF COURSE.

>> IT HAS BEEN MY PLEASURE.

I HAVE BEEN JUST SO BLESSED TO HEAR YOUR WORK.

AND YOUR AMAZING IMAGERY.

I´M SURE, IT WILL STICK WITH ME FOR A LONG TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US ON THE "THE BOOKCASE."

IT´S BEEN MY PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ON AS MY GUEST, AND TO DISCUSS THE WORK IN POETRY.

FOR INFORMATION ON ANY OF THE ITEMS FEATURED ON "THE BOOKCASE," GO TO OUR WEBSITE.

WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF THE LOCAL AUTHORS.

>> UNDERCOVER BOOKS AND GIFTS IS A PROUD SUPPORTER OF VIRGIN ISLAND PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND THIS STORE CARRIES A SELECTION OF BOOK, GIFTS AND FAIR TRADE PRODUCTS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.UNDERCOVER BOOKS ST. CROIX.COM.

>> AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

♫♫