17489. “RUINS OF A GREAT HOUSE” BY DEREK WALCOTT. This paper provides a review and critique of Walcott’s poem which considers the colonial experience, including the problems of exploitation and slavery. Considers how Walcott’s West Indian background contributes to his poem. KEYWORDS: poetry blacks African American slavery West Indies colonialism. Written 2004. Chicago/Turabian Parenthetical Style. 5 pages, 14 footnotes, 1 bibliographic source. 1,236 words.