Main reading - Esther Phillips

Poetry International is excited to welcome Esther Phillips, the first Poet Laureate of Barbados, to the festival for a special reading dedicated to her poetry. Phillips is a poet who conveys deep emotions through uncomplicated yet layered language. Her work is influenced by Western literary traditions, such as the works of Shakespeare, Eliot, and Heaney, adding rich intertextuality to her poetry. Phillips is not only a celebrated poet but also an important voice in the literary scene of Barbados as the founder of the Bim Literary Festival. During this reading, hosted by Tsead Bruinja, attendees will have the chance to experience her unique poetic voice up close and engage in dialogue with a poet who enriches and promotes Caribbean culture.

Esther Phillips

Esther Phillips is a Barbadian poet, teacher, and editor. In 2018, she was appointed the first Poet Laureate of Barbados. She began writing at an early age, publishing her first poems in the literary magazine BIM. She later earned an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Miami, receiving the Alfred Boas Poetry Prize. 

Phillips has published four poetry collections and a chapbook, including Witness in Stone (2021) and Leaving Atlantis (2015). Her poetry, shaped by her Christian faith and rural upbringing, explores themes of love, grief, and memory. Using layered yet accessible language, she captures both personal emotions and historical experiences, particularly those tied to Caribbean culture and colonialism. 

She founded the Bim Literary Festival and is a leading voice in Barbados' reparations movement. In 2023, she was awarded the Order of the Republic of Barbados (OR).