Poetry Unbound Lorna Goodison — Reporting Back to Queen Isabella
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Apr 30, 2021 Lorna Goodison, the former Poet Laureate of Jamaica, dives deep into the themes of colonization and identity through her evocative poem 'Reporting Back to Queen Isabella.' She imagines a dramatic meeting between Queen Isabella and Christopher Columbus, brilliantly exposing the vacuous nature of colonial exploits. Goodison's vivid language challenges traditional narratives, bringing forth the dignity and voices of indigenous peoples often lost in history. Her unique perspective reclaims the past, transforming it into art that speaks to contemporary issues.
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Hidden Violence of Colonization
- Lorna Goodison uses drama and pageantry in her poem "Reporting Back to Queen Isabella".
- This hides the maliciousness, murder, and war-making underneath colonization.
The Use of "Don Cristobal"
- Instead of "Christopher Columbus," Goodison uses "Don Cristobal" to evoke a Spanish sensibility.
- This immerses the reader in the Spanish court's perspective.
The "New World" Deception
- The term "New World" is a tool of colonization.
- It masks the violence and existing sophisticated systems of the colonized lands.