Trinidadian-American poet Roger Bonair-Agard attended the Unterberg Poetry Center’s season opener with Derek Walcott here last week and posted an enthusiastic and heartfelt review of the evening:

Went to see Derek Walcott read poems today at the 92nd Street Y and I almost cannot believe that this is the first time I have had a chance to see him read live. Understand that not only is this man an 80 yr old 20-something-odd book Shaolin master of poetry, but he is a man whose work I was asked to recite in school back home. It is possible that he is among the very first masters whose work, schooled as it is in the colonial education we both had, moved between the particulars of the people’s syntax we heard spoken in the street, our dialect, and a standard Shakespearean English, and in every movement commanded lionization for its brilliance.

Today I completely geeked out on him. I agonized over what I would wear. I imagined what it would look like and what sort of conversation i might get to have with him in the 45 seconds he’d be signing my books. I wrote my mailing address down because I had heard he does not like e-mail and I made sure I plugged the LouderARTS Project and begged him to come read for us. I memorized the first page of his poem “Spoiler’s Return.” Spoiler is an old-school Trinidadian calypsonian who has long since passed. Spoiler’s work itself was of that part of calypso that is clever and cutting social commentary; art that is political not because it believes that to be its role but because there is no other way to be.

Bonair-Agard goes on to excerpt Walcott’s poem and tells readers, “This might be the most major of major poets you have a chance to hear and read while still alive. Do it now!” Read the full review.

Next up in our Unterberg Poetry Center Reading Series: Lydia Davis and Per Petterson. A full schedule of once-in-a-lifetime readings and literary performances are on tap.