By Tanya Batson, Staff Reporter
Professor Mervyn Morris and Carolyn Allen share a 'chups'. Ms. Allen had been responsible for putting together the tribute to the professor which was hosted by the Department of Literatures in English.
THE THEATRE AT the Phillip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts, University of the Wsest Indies, (UWI). was crowded on Monday night, as the Department of Literatures in English bid a fond 'see you later' to Professor Mervyn Morris.
The event was named 'Checking Out', borrowing the title from one of the celebrated poet's works, and was hosted by Fae Ellington and Michael Anthony Cuffe.
The evening was a combination of performances from some of Jamaica's most outstanding artistes and tributes from his colleagues, friends, and past students. 'Checking Out' was longer than may have been anticipated, but it was interestingly so. In fact, the number of praises which were used to crown Professor Morris would supply great fodder for his eulogist. However, it was obvious that he is nowhere near death's door. As Trevor Rhone would later declare, "Mervyn is not retiring. Mervyn is changing gears. And not changing down, Mervyn is changing up, foot on the accelerator, surging ahead."
As he paid tribute, Rhone pointed out that since he was rather tired and would have said no to anyone else, but he had to be present for a tribute to Mervyn Morris. He described Professor Morris as his mentor. He noted that though he rarely performs, he had to do so on the night. As such, Rhone added an entertaining touch to the evening by reading from his autobiography, which he also noted will be playing at The Barn in December. The reading was a testament to quiet wit, which had the audience laughing merrily.
He explained that his first introduction to theatre was at a tea meeting and as a result he decided to spend his days, "singing, dancing, reciting and making music that nobody would pay to take me off." Unfortunately, the experience would teach him that he had only one talent. He was stripped of his dreams of singing, dancing and making music, left only with recitation.
A recorded tribute came from Leonie Forbes, who is away in Canada. During the tribute she read some of her favourite Morris poems, before bidding him good wishes from her 'metaphorically bent knee'.
Forbes' tribute was not the only one which was performed in absentia. Deputy Principal of the university, Joseph Pereira, was also forced to be absent. However, he made sure that his words were included. As a result Dr. Waibinte Wariboko read his tribute. In his tribute, Mr. Pereira noted that Professor Morris' career at the university was marked by 'excellence in his teaching and his writing'.
Professor Edward Baugh helped to fill in the picture of Professor Morris as a colleague and friend. He noted that though he was given exemption from the 'five-minute rule' which the other presenters were asked to stick to, he would use Mervyn as an example that 'brevity is the soul of wit'. Professor Baugh stated that he hoped that he was asked to speak about the other poet as friend on colleague, not simply as a way of 'killing two birds with one stone'.
Professor Morris had joined the Department of Literatures in English under Professor Baugh's leadership. He described Morris as "outstandingly reasonable, fair minded, balanced in judgment. More than once, Professor Baugh remarked "You are a better man than I, Charlie Brown."
"Incidentally, if I tell any lies tonight, I err on the side of truth," he remarked.
Other tributes helped provide a detailed picture of Professor Morris as a sportsman and an announcer. These tributes came from Horton Dolphin, Student Services Manager, UWI, and June Deiga, Public Relations Manager, UWI. His past students, Dr. Kim Robinson-Watt, and Erica MacFarlane, served to paint a picture of Professor Morris as lecture guide and mentor.
Four other past students performed pieces of their creative work dedicated to him, before performing Morris' own Farewell Function.
As one of the students declared, reading Farewell Function came in part as revenge, as it is possibly Professor Morris' only long poem. This they took delight in reading as many of their works were 'ruthlessly pruned' by Professor Morris, to create shorter, more meaningful pieces.
It was also evident that Professor Morris' influence went far beyond his students and friends.
This was much in evidence during Mutabaruka's performance. The dub poet noted that Morris' acceptance of their work helped to legitimise their poetry.
As the evening's host explained, the same can be said for the bringing of Louise Bennett's poetry into the realm of accepted poetry, rather than mere entertainment.
The evening also featured two performances by The University Dance Society. First they performed Groovin' to Monty Sly and Robbie, which was choreographed by Natalie Chung. The second piece, choreographed by L'Antoinette Stines, Poetry and Motion, however, was a far superior work. The dance, which was performed to the words of Kamau Brathwaite, was a more than appropriate tribute to another great poet.
Professor Morris's association with the University of the West Indies has been a long and distinguished one, lasting from 1966 - 2002. The evening attested to the quality of his career, in part by being a quality programme itself. Although the programme lasted for close to three hours without break, no one seemed to mind.
