To celebrate Caribbean American Heritage Month in June—and the rich tradition of Caribbean American poetry all year long—browse poems by both classic and contemporary poets appropriate for young people.
From “Mesongs” by Kamau Brathwaite
And suddenly you was talking trees ...
“Dirt” by Kwame Dawes
We who gave, owned nothing ...
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“The Leopard” by Yusef Komunyakaa
She feels the shape of another animal ...
“Believing in Iron” by Yusef Komunyakaa
She feels the shape of another animal ...
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“Facing It” by Yusef Komunyakaa
My black face fades ...
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“No Ruined Stone” by Shara McCallum
When the dead return / they will come to you in dream ...
“America” by Claude McKay
Although she feeds me bread of bitterness ...
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“I Know My Soul” by Claude McKay
I plucked my soul out of its secret place ...
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“Two-An’-Six” by Claude McKay
Merry voices chatterin’ ...
“Ferrum [excerpt]” by M. NourbeSe Philip
s no s laves s in nest/s with ...
“Entonces Mi Hija/ Then My Daughter” by Mara Pastor, translated by María José Giménez and Anna Rosenwong
Turned to her toys and said / the first to realize ...
“The Sea Is History” by Derek Walcott
Where are your monuments, your battles, martyrs? ...