Haiti My Country: Poems by Haitian schoolchildren

41 Pages·2014·215.824 MB·English

by  Messier, Solange, Rogé

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For several months, Quebec illustrator
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Rogé prepared a series of portraits of
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Haitian children. Students of Camp em
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Perrin wrote the accompanying poems by
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which create, with flowing consistency, a
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Haiti My Country. These teenaged poets n
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use the Haitian landscape as their easel. h
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The nature that envelops them is quite lc
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clearly their main subject. While misery ildr
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often storms through Haiti in the form I
of earthquakes, cyclones, or floods, llus
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these young men and women see their te
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surrounding nature as assurance for a by
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joyful, confident future. og
é
❧ Governor General Finalist 2011
Haiti
(children's illustration category)
❧ Communication-Jeunesse Selection The pretty flowers of my country are to me
❧ Lauréat Prix Saint Exupéry 2011
Like pink butterflies
(French category)
my country
❧ Lauréat Prix Applied Arts 2011 That smile at the sun.
(illustrations category)
❧ Lauréat Prix Illustration Lux 2011 Judes-Roldes
(book category)
❧ White Ravens Selection 2012
Preface by Dany Laferrière
Poems by Haitian Schoolchildren
Illustrated by Rogé
www.fifthousepublishers.ca www.fifthousepublishers.ca
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Haiti
­
my­country
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Haiti
­
my­country
Poems by Haitian Schoolchildren
Illustrated by Rogé
Translated by Solange Messier
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Faces and Landscapes
When­introduced­to­a­poem,­I­do­not­like­to­know­the­age­of­the­poet.­
With­a­novel,­I­always­end­up­knowing­the­approximate­age­of­the­
author.­I­only­have­to­read­attentively­to­revisit­the­era­he­or­she­grew­up­in­
(through­a­song,­a­place,­an­obsolete­expression,­or­a­particular­event).­
A­poet­often­evokes­the­glory­of­nature,­for­no­other­reason­than­for­the­
pure­joy­of­it.­For­a­novelist,­nature­is­often­seen­through­the­eyes­of­the­
main­character­–­during­a­car­ride­or­on­a­long­walk­with­a­lover,­for­
instance.­Nature­might­also­be­used­to­express­the­wretchedness­of­a­broken­
heart,­or­the­sudden,­glowing­joy­of­a­carefree­child­starting­out­on­life’s­
journey.­The­young­poets­whose­work­you­will­read­have­placed­their­easels­
in­the­middle­of­landscapes.­Clearly,­nature­is­their­primary­subject.­Their­
ways­of­describing­it­remind­me­of­primitive­painters.­From­their­pens­flow­
such­elegant­scenes­that­we­tend­to­wonder­if­they­reflect­the­reality­of­Haiti.­
After­the­ongoing­deforestation­of­the­last­few­decades­came­a­succession­
of­cyclones,­deadly­floods,­and­then­the­horrific­earthquake.­I­should­clarify­
that­these­poems­were­written­before­the­earthquake­of­January­12,­2010.­
What’s­more,­the­region­where­these­young­poets­live­has­been­largely­
unaffected­by­the­calamities­that­I­have­just­mentioned.­The­natural­
landscapes­that­surround­these­teenagers­inspire­such­dreams­that­visitors­
are­often­surprised­they­originated­in­Haiti.­Ricardo­Jocelyn­lifts­his­head­
toward­“an­azure­sky­scattered­with­small­white­clouds.”­And­Lordanie­
Théodore,­while­strolling,­breathes­in­a­“loving­scent.”­We’re­at­the­heart­­
of­Southwest­Haiti,­a­region­that­I­am­unfamiliar­with­because,­for­some­
mysterious­reason,­I­have­never­been­there.­I’m­here­now­to­view­the­region­
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through­the­eyes­of­the­young­poets.­Nevertheless,­Petit-Goâve,­where­I­
grew­up,­isn’t­as­far­from­the­south­as­I­had­believed.­And­my­adolescence­­
is­not­too­different­from­those­of­these­young­dreamers.­I­feel,­like­they­do,­
the­secret­joy­one­feels­about­living­near­such­charming­vistas.­We­might­
prefer­to­keep­our­emotions­private,­but­they­are­so­powerful­that­they­seem­
to­seep­through­our­pores.­
I­observe­Marie-Andrèle­who­is­so­fascinated­by­the­“yellow­mango”­that­
she­sings­to­it,­hoping­for­it­to­fall:­“Balance­yourself­below­the­branch.”­
And­I­remember,­like­Marie-France­Étienne,­the­“heavy­rains”­in­June­“and­
the­giant­noon­sun.”­Everything­is­seen­in­vivid­colour,­reminiscent­of­a­
tropical­Matisse­painting:­a­red­mango,­a­green­window,­with­some­purple­
here­and­there.­What­a­celebration!­And­almost­impossibly,­it­distracts­us­
from­the­devastation­caused­by­the­earthquake.­Such­energy­inhabits­these­
adolescents!­It­overflows­and­consoles­us,­even­as­unfathomable­sadness­
invades­our­hearts.­Their­vitality­is­irresistible.­But­as­heavenly­as­the­setting­is,­
it­does­not­distract­them­from­the­human­condition.­They­are­not­fools.­
Even­though­I’m­disinterested­in­knowing­the­age­of­these­poets,­I­do­love­
to­see­the­faces­of­those­who­speak­to­me.­I­do­not­know­if­the­illustrations­are­
true­likenesses­of­the­young­writers,­but­I­love­the­portraits­that­accompany­
the­verses­because­they­blend­with­the­landscape­and­give­us­the­true­face­of­
the­country­–­a­snapshot­of­its­future.­It­is­not­common­to­see­such­sober­faces­
in­Haiti,­where­we­still­believe­we­must­accentuate­our­zest­for­life­and­add­
some­colour.­The­illustrator­(I­say­illustrator­and­not­painter­because­these­
portraits­force­us­to­think­rather­than­to­look)­seems­to­be­trying­to­resolve­a­
deep­mystery­behind­the­faces­that­are­suddenly­unreadable.­
Why­is­that?­Perhaps­it’s­because­they­suggest­a­peaceful,­even­idyllic­
world,­when­we­know­that­terrible­turmoil­advances­toward­them.­That’s­
what­makes­them­so­poignant.­The­desert,­gaining­ground,­threatens­this­
harmonious­world.­Misery­gallops­toward­these­young­men­and­women,­
who­are­presently­filled­with­laughter.­Here­they­stand­so­confident­of­
their­future.­Judes-Roldes­Raymond­even­has­time­to­slip­us­her­love­of­
flowers,­“especially­pink­flowers,”­before­melding­with­the­landscape.­And­
to­ensure­that­no­one­sends­her­a­bouquet,­she­points­out­that­she­prefers­
them­“attached­to­their­roots.”­How­much­time­will­it­take­before­these­
young­faces­are­carried­away­by­time?­Who­will­be­left­to­evoke­such­joy­
on­this­bereft­island?­Other­young­people,­of­course.­Because­in­Haiti,­
poets­grow­as­fast­as­the­trees.
Dany­Laferrière
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To­my­family,
Rogé
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I want to make it radiate everywhere
To make it known that Haiti is a gift from the heavens
Witnessing its greenery, its palm,
Apricot, mango, and avocado trees
The breeze caressing them as they dance
Their ripe fruit perched on high
Reminds one of the Genesis...
These oranges more sweet than sugar
More fl avourful than honey
Each day in which the sun rises
Illuminating hills and rivers provides comfort for our worries
Upon awakening we hear the song of our neighbour’s rooster
A beautiful concert to the ears of the merchants
Parading the streets of my country
Oh, Haiti! How beautiful you are in my eyes!
We come from everywhere, from all around you, to contemplate
Not far from your eternal and pure white beaches
We can smell your loving scent, intoxicating your people
Who sing for you, Haitian nature...
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I dream
Of millions of fl ying birds
Around a tiny island without shelter, without shade
Hail and rain invade its sheet metal
Large trees inhibit its land from plummeting
From south to north
I walk in a garden of gold
By crossing wooded mountains
To Calcaneum
After each night of marvel
The citizens awaken under a sun
That protects the beaches from the cold sea
My gaze stops on a beach
Filled with people and belongings
Children who play, who chat
There, so jealous, rebellious
Begin to sing nonstop
Suddenly, I awaken
While imagining that it was all real
I open wide my eyes and ears
I look through the window
It’s completely the opposite
I do not want to see these things in dreams
But in reality...
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