MERVYN MORRIS is Jamaica’s Poet Laureate. His books of poetry include The Pond, Shadowboxing, Examination Centre, On Holy Week and I been there, sort of: New and Selected Poems. He has also written criticism and biography: ‘Is English We Speaking’ and Other Essays, Making West Indian Literature and, most recently, Miss Lou: Louise Bennett and Jamaican Culture. He taught at the University of the West Indies, Mona, retiring in 2002 as Professor of Creative Writing and West Indian Literature.