Geoffrey Philp Livres

How does an alien with an unfortunate resemblance to Margaret Thatcher come to be in Uncle Obadiah's yard smoking all his best weed? This beautifully crafted and frequently hilarious collection of short stories is guaranteed to lift even the deepest gloom. Written in Jamaican patois and standard English, this is a brilliant read which will lead you through the yards of Jamaica to the streets of Miami. Here is a contemporary world, warts and all. Geoffrey Philp goes beyond stereotypes to portray the individuality and humanity in all his characters. And of course there is always the best lamb's breath colly to help improve the day. "If Dickens were reincarnated as a Jamaican Rastaman, he would write stories as hilarious and humane as these. Uncle Obadiah and the other stories collected here announce Geoffrey Philp as a direct descendent of Bob poet, philosophizer, spokesperson for our next new world."Robert Antoni. Geoffrey Philp was born in Jamaica. He now lives and works in Miami.

The narrative follows newlyweds Mary and Joseph on their arduous journey to their homeland for a census, amidst the backdrop of political tyranny. With Mary pregnant and Joseph aware the child is not his, their path is fraught with emotional tension. Along the way, they encounter various strangers drawn by mystical experiences, all destined to witness the birth of a child prophesied to alter humanity's fate. The poems explore themes of sacrifice, destiny, and the intertwining of the ordinary with the divine.

Exploring themes of dread and renewal, the poems delve into a world fraught with natural and societal turmoil, where hurricanes symbolize both chaos and transformation. The voices of diverse characters, from Jamaican prophets to Cuban exiles, create a rich tapestry that reflects the human experience amid adversity. Philp's work intertwines personal and cosmic elements, infused with the rhythms of reggae and mambo, capturing the essence of life’s fragility and the enduring quest for redemption and joy.

Jamaican born, Miami resident, Geoffrey Philp finds in Xango a powerful metaphor for the rich, syncretic diversity, the multiple connections of the African person in the New World. In these poems, the god of cross-roads is both a prophetic voice of the fire to come and the creator who hammers out sweet sound from the iron drum.

Set against the backdrop of Jamaica, this literary thriller follows Jason Lumley, who returns home after his stepfather's murder. Accompanied by his girlfriend Nicole and a Rastafarian mentor, he navigates the dangerous garrison ghetto of Standpipe. Along the way, Lumley confronts his past and grapples with themes of sexism, homophobia, and corruption that challenge the ideals of nationalism. The narrative draws parallels to Dante's "Inferno," enriching the journey with profound social commentary.

This anthology showcases the author's profound exploration of humanity and political awareness, enriched by themes of family, migration, home, and loss. The poems reflect a deep connection to reggae and third world spirituality, illustrating the author's technical mastery and evolving consciousness in midlife. By employing the metaphor of "Dub," the collection celebrates urban culture, historical influences, and the joy of community, while also delving into spiritual insights and political themes, establishing a significant contribution to contemporary poetry.

Exploring contemporary life within immigrant communities, this collection of short stories delves into the experiences of individuals in Miami and Jamaica. Themes of sexuality, prejudice, and troubled childhoods are intertwined with humor and depth, showcasing unique narratives such as a poignant domino game between father and son and the whimsical tale of a dreadlocked vampire. The engaging personal voice throughout highlights the intricacies of human relationships, making for a rich and multilayered reading experience.

This is poetry written in the time of onrushing global disaster, of a racist and still imperial USA and of Black Lives Matter. Philp's powerful and elegant poems span past and present, with a call to arms that opens out the struggle for human survival in the epoch of the Anthropocene to remind us that these horrors began not just in the factories of Europe but in the holds of the slave ships and plantations of the Caribbean. No natural world was more changed than the West Indian islands by sugar monoculture - and, as the title poem begins: "At the end of this sentence, a flood will rise/ and swallow low-lying islands of the Caribbean". Historically, "the debris of empire that crowd our shores" connects to the "sands of our beaches / littered with masks and plastic bottles." These are poems of wit and anger, but also of personal intimacy - dealing with the vexed relationship with a violent father - and give us line after line of the shapeliest poetry - in sound, in rhythm and the exact choice of word.