Collins


the landscape around us. I wrote a number of poems

in that period which was one of my richest periods when

I first came here. I never felt that I had to write a

poem about the Caribbean. It's very possible that my

images, now that I am somewhat removed from the Caribbean,

(in the sense that I am still here but I'm not involved,

in teaching, criticism or journalism) could draw a lot

more from my Caribbean experience and incorporate it into

the imagery of the poem.

 Both Derek Walcott and John Figueroa have a very

definite European background. They tend to write in a

more classical manner. In that sense I identify with them

very much because my background has been rather somewhat

classical European-oriented, moreso than North American.

I don't see myself as a Caribbean poet, nor as a North

American poet. I don't see myself in any context as being

a part of a particular country because I've lived in so

many different countries.


James Collins