Poems From Guantanamo

Poems from Guantanamo: The Detainees speak published by Marc Falkoff, is a collection of poems written by the infamous prisoners of GTMO or Guantanamo Detention Centre. The very existence of Guantanamo Bay camp nullifies the purpose of democracy as most detainees are detained without any trial. This article explores the poems and the poets themselves; investigating content of the poems and role of these prisoners as poets. They might not fit in to Wordsworth’s definition of a poet. But they embody its spirit and let their feelings flow spontaneously. They declare their innocence, rip open the hypocrisy of their captives and describe the injustice done to them. Poems claim that their captors are not interested to listen to them. It is as if they want them to be perpetuators. The poets
Wordsworth in Preface to Lyrical Ballads has said; “For all good poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings”. He has also said “The subject is indeed important!” (Wordsworth). Poems from Guantanamo has both these things and more. Indeed, Wordsworth preferred poems of “common life” and “common man”. Poets of this collection Poems from Guantanamo are neither common men nor their experiences common. Yet Wordsworth has also said “Poetry is the image of man and nature.” Image of man would not be complete without taking to account people who are both exceptions and exceptional. “Poet binds together by passion and knowledge the vast empire of human society, as it is spread over the whole earth, and over all time.” The job of a poet is to bind together people. The people who need ‘binding’ are the people who have been shunned. When Wordsworth said that poet “is a man speaking to men:” he intended a person who was enthusiastic and tender. The poets in this collection will not have that positive energy that Wordsworth sought. But in a way they have “a greater knowledge of human nature, and a more comprehensive soul.”