James Berry Poetry

James Berry, a Jamaican poet in England since the 1940s, merged English and Patois in works exploring black-white community dynamics. Editor of significant anthologies and honored with an OBE, Berry’s poetry and prose significantly impacted British literature. He passed away in 2017, leaving a rich literary legacy.

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On an Afternoon Train from Purley to Victoria, 1955

‘On an Afternoon Train from Purley to Victoria, 1955’ by James Berry is a beautifully written poem that discusses human interactions and how rare sincerity is.

James Berry was a Jamaican poet who is well-regarded for his moving poetry. This piece is one of his better-known and widely read. It demonstrates his style, thematic interests, and ability to convey emotion very well.

Hello, she said, and startled me.

Nice day. Nice day I agreed.

I am a Quaker she said and Sunday

I was moved in silence

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