The 2009 Calabash International Literary Festival, that almost wasn't because of sponsorship woes and then seemed destined for another deluge of rain like those which have affected it in previous years, opened under clear skies on Friday night.

There was a palpable sense of relief and gratitude among the audience members, who occupied about a third of the seating under the large tents at Jake's in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth, for the opening poetry session, with a Peepal Tree Press trio, bang on time at 7:30 p.m.

And by the first 'Two The Hard Way' session with Edwidge Danticat and Junot Diaz, after openers Millicent Graham, Esther Phillips and Velma Pollard, the latecomers had to be chair hunting. At yesterday's opening session with Staceyann Chin, Edward Seaga and Anthony Winkler, Calabash had had its biggest opening night ever.

There was an interview with actor Melvin Van Peebles and a screening of his latest film, before opening night closed with a concert, Mutabaruka selecting the discs and Tarrus Riley singing the songs.

Hearty applauds

When Calabash's programming director and host of the readings, Kwame Dawes, asked for Calabash first-timers to wave quite a few hands went up. And all applauded heartily after Dawes listed the sponsors "with great gratitude", as Calabash would not have happened without them.

"We remain committed to finding ways to fund this festival," Dawes said. Regarding recommendations to impose an entry fee, Dawes said "that is not the philosophy of Calabash. It is free and open to the public. When we start to charge we don't have a festival."

There is also the matter of support for the arts and Dawes said Calabash's organisers "believe that if quality is given, quality must be supported. And this year's festival proves that."

Although a couple of readers mentioned it, matters of sponsorship were not dwelt upon; it was a literary feast, not a litany of 'almost wasn't'.

So Millicent Graham took a deep breath and said "OK" before she opened "the unstoppable Calabash Festival 2009" with her debut collection, The Damp in Things, referring to studying in Brighton, England, and recalling Jamaica through a fusion of English food and Jamaica, ways with food.