Norberto Rawlings

1945 - 2021

Norberto Pedro James Rawlings passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 7, 2021 after a 15-year battle with Parkinson's Disease. His entire life can be traced through his seven books of poetry for which he is widely known and cherished in the Dominican Republic--from the capital of Santo Domingo to Consuelo, the sugar plantation in San Pedro de Macors where he was born on February 6, 1945. Norberto came of age under the dictatorship of Leonidas Trujillo and as a child touched the gun holstered by one of Trujillo's sons on a dare. From a childhood of deprivation, he broke free by reading everything he could get his hands on, and pursued his education by capturing and riding a neighbor's horse to Colegio San Esteban, a private secondary school, seven miles away. His poem, 'I had no books,' evokes his early years when he slept on a rag bed and read outside under a street light. He was known for his patience, willing to fish with nothing more than a piece of string. His placid demeanor, soft eyes and crooked smile betrayed a razor-sharp wit and almost supernatural powers of observation. This ability to detect truth below the surface informed his poetry and guided his decisions in life. At the age of 24 he published his first book of poetry, Sobre la marcha (On the March) which contains his most famous poem, 'The Immigrants,' a tribute and lyrical history of the cocolo community. Six more books of poetry would follow over the course of his lifetime. His fight for knowledge during a time of political repression led him to Cuba where he received his Licenciatura in Hispanic Literature. Soon thereafter he came to the United States to complete a doctoral degree in Hispanic Language and Literatures at Boston University where he met his wife. Together they formed a literary team of poet and translator, and upon receiving their PhDs, held academic teaching positions in the Boston area. Norberto James ended his teaching career as a beloved Spanish teacher at the Boston Latin School, where his students lovingly called him 'Dr. J'. His generosity of spirit helped to prepare and direct students with limited means to prestigious colleges, such as Harvard. He also continued to give poetry readings and was the recipient of numerous awards and honors both in the United States and the Dominican Republic. His last poem was written only six months before his death; his 'poemas breves' became the capstone to his complete works, Poesa Completa, Norberto James Rawlings (2020) which he lived to see published. Norberto James is survived by his wife of 34 years, Elizabeth Wellington, their son Tito Wellington James, as well as Norberto's daughters from a previous marriage, Malva Mariana James Mangan and Ruth Esther James Rodrguez. His 'lovely grandchildren' include Malva's son Rey, and daughter Lana and Ruth's son Luka. Funeral arrangements are planned for late summer in Haverhill, New Hampshire. www.rickerfh.com