Almost every day at Calabash, I'd grab my laptop and head down to a lounge chair at the edge of the sea (sorry) to commune with Harriet. Then, fortunately and unfortunately, I would happen upon the copious, deftly crafted musings of Kwame Dawes. Each day he wrote with such unbridled exhilaration. He wrote about the festival with the love of a father.
By the time I'd finished reading his posts, I didn't feel there was anything to add. It was all there--the celebration, the community, the camaraderie, the rain. And I'm afraid my planned entries were going to be a little (OK, a lot) less insightful:
I saw a really big crocodile!
I totally like saltfish!
My granddaughter Mikaila beat a really smart man (initials Terrance Hayes) at Scrabble!
I thought it was B.J. Honeycutt and it was!
I've never had an audience like this!
I drank (mineral water) at a bar built right in the middle of the sea!
I've heard Michael Ondaatje giggle!
I'm in Jamaica!
OK, so I'm not as tender and exhaustive as our prolific Mr. D. Maybe it's just enough to say...
...my life has been changed.
Patricia Smith (she/her) has been called “a testament to the power of words to change lives.” She is…
Read Full Biography