Poet represents Belize in Colombia

One of the country’s most popular cultural icons returned yesterday from South America, where he represented Belize at a meeting of the world’s poets. Grandmaster Leroy Young, best known for his publications “Made in Pinks Alley” and “Generation X,” dropped by Channel 5 this evening to tell us about his two week excursion.

Leroy “Grandmaster” Young, Poet

“It was an invitation extended to me for the Eleventh International Poetry Festival in Medellin, Colombia. You had people from ninety different nations, people that represented their country. I was flown in from Belize, I don’t know how, but that was where I was and I represented my country.”

Jose Sanchez

“Grandmaster, I know your poems are in English and these people speak Spanish, exactly how did you represent us?”

Leroy “Grandmaster” Young

“Tu quiere mi hablar Espanol. Me no dice nada mas. Mi palabras dice todo.

As a poet, number one, it opened my eyes. Number two, I’ve been there and seen opportunities not only for me, but for other poets in Belize, and Belizean people on a whole. Number four, I am very focused right now, I’m on a mission and nothing will get in my way. No get ina my way, no interfere with my way, no block my way, clear my way or I will move you out of my way.”

If you would like to enter the world of the Grandmaster, copies of his poetry books are available for sale at the Image Factory.