466/64 (For Nelson Mandela)

It was my dream meet him, and I am sorry I never did. What a man! What a life! I dedicate my poem, 466/64 to this great man. Rest in peace, Madiba.

466/64 (For Nelson Mandela)

In '64, 465 men had gone before
to that lonely island's shore.
#466 came.
Instead of prison bars
he saw stars
that nightly shone;
visions of a day
when a long freedom walk
would signal Apartheid's death knell.
466 left his mark.
He learned their language
got into their head,
got under their skin
until almost defeated
de Klerk had to come to him.
Madiba, gentle man
with a warm smile, a big heart.
The mighty South African army
could not defeat him.
He won, and on his shoulders
with dignity and forgiveness he bore
the aspirations of a people
who said "no more; no more!"

Copyright 2013 Yasmin Morais

An Interview with Jeremy A.R. Davis

I am delighted to share this recent interview with the very interesting Jeremy A.R. Davis. Jeremy and I welcome your questions and comments.

1) Could you share with us more about your background?

I come from quite an eclectic background to say the least.  My mother is from Guyana and my father is from Barbados. In my early years, my sister and I spent a lot of time traveling with my mother, a devout Seventh Day Adventist teacher and missionary, while my father, a wonderful man, but the definition of an 'Easy going Bajan', lived a life of 'no shoes, no shirt, no problem' and partied himself away from the warmth of my mother's affections. So my background was first shaped by the  juxtaposition of these two main characters in my life, and eventually by experiencing the various cultures and subsequent personalities I've had the pleasure of. My education was extensive. Naturally, being so inquisitive (malicious/ macocious/ nosy) , people assume that I'm extremely extroverted, and to a certain extent, I am gregarious, but growing up, I spent a lot of time in quiet introspection, and I still do, watching, thinking... and taking notes. Eventually I struck out on my own, as a traveler, and began to frequent places I've come to enjoy- for  inspiration, following in the proverbial 'footsteps' of my heros- namely Ernest Hemingway, to write. 

Ironically enough, after visiting a few times in the last couple years, Guyana has renewed my love interest in her and I plan on buying a farm there soon. 

 

2) How long have you been writing, and what inspired your collection, The Release?

To be honest, I'm not really sure when I started writing.  It could have been when I got expelled from school at then Caribbean Union College in Trinidad and had to attend my mother's Lit classes with her since babysitters were unheard of on our budget, and I caused too much trouble to be left alone (one day I tried to make roti. I was 8)-

I remember Dr. McGarrel, one of the professors asking me to read Chaucer and it was fun, so a few years later when I went to boarding school in New Jersey, I would lock myself away in the library and read from the greats, trying to sound, read, think... like them, and eventually trying to write like them. The Release is what happened because I was allowed to pretend I was a great writer. 

(I'd like to thank everyone, by the way, who heard my stuff and said it was good enough to put in a book. )

 

3) What is your writing process like?

My process is mad! I start writing and I don't stop till I'm finished.  I've had to quit jobs because I couldn't be bothered to show up for work, I was too deep in my flow. I get engulfed in the story.  I become the 'sexy Brown skinned girl with brown eyes' or the 'middle aged depressed man who has lost his son'. Sometimes I think I'm going crazy with all these voices in my head begging me to write their stories. Sometimes I break for food, but I always get annoyed when people interrupt me, and I find I work better at night, when I haven't eaten all day. 

 

4) Which writers have influenced your writing style the most?

People say Frost. I think I'm inclined to agree, but my work has a conversational, urban contemporary slant to it. To be honest, I read and research so much it's difficult to say much, but I'd like to think that my style is so unique I'll receive awards and accolades for crafting this new style :) perhaps this genre even.  Lol- we'll see how that goes!

 

5) You are the editor of the I-Am Poet Project. Could you tell us a little bit more about the project.

Yes! In the I-Am Poetry Project, which is slated to begin officially next year, I'm going to work with other writers to help build, promote and eventually publish younger writers and their crafts. 

Think of it as a mentoring program/literary journal for teens. The journal is going to be international in its scope.  I want to cover a wide range of themes from young people all over the globe to hear their views on the things that affect them.  You know, I think poetry, or any writing for that matter, is therapeutic. It's one of the things that caused me to maintain my sanity... and freedom over the years. That's why I'm compelled to it; for me, writing is life. This is another reason I do consult in schools as a Youth Trainer because I believe that I can show young people how to USE Creative writing to free their mind of all the negativity that is forced in there causing them to doubt. .. And realize their potential. 

 

6) What accomplishments are you most proud of so far?

I'm a harsh critic of myself. To be honest, I don't think I've done anything special yet.  I'm really aligning myself so that when the time comes, I wouldn't screw it up. So... I'll keep you updated on that :)

 

7) How do you achieve balance in juggling your many roles?

I'm learning proper time management and the importance of having a well organized, balanced life. 

My schedule has become so rigid, I schedule everything from 5 min. Naps to outings with my mother and I hate when people waste my time.  That's one of the things I don't like about church- is too longggggggg... But the Sabbath is the Lord's so I'm working on it.  Except when I'm writing- then I'm out of control.  I do nothing - not easy, no sleep. I just obsess, which is not good I'm sure. 

 

8) What else would you like readers to know about you?

I love hearing from them.  I think every writer needs feedback; it helps them- not only with research but you know, the life of a 'writer' can be a lonesome one. A lot of times, it's just you, and well you know... the voices! Sometimes it's nice to have that validation, that encouragement to keep going.  All writers eventually become detached from reality, at least once, I know I have.  I've alienated friends and you know... But it happens.  I want readers to know that I love to connect with them and the easiest way to do so is on my page: https://www.facebook.com/jeremyardavis

Or my website http://jeremyardavis.com

So, readers, there you have it. Note especially Jeremy's last response that he loves hearing from readers. Share your thoughts with him.

Thank you so much, Jeremy, for taking time to connect with us.

Stay tuned for more of Jeremy's poems and book giveaways during this month!

Jeremy A.R. Davis

I am pleased to share with you this month the work of Jeremy A.R. Davis. Jeremy is a poet, novelist, publicist, and teacher. He is also the editor of the I-Am Poetry Project. In addition to his poetry collection, The Release, Jeremy has also published Painting from the Heart and My Mother's Son.

Jeremy is currently on tour promoting his latest book, Life Lessons for My Brothas, but he has graciously agreed to grant Poets of the Caribbean an interview. So, please stay tuned to learn more about Jeremy in the upcoming interview.

Since it is the season of giving and sharing, Jeremy has also agreed to give away copies of his book, so you won't want to miss out on that!

Jeremy A.R. Davis

 

Recommended Reading

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

I have come across some great titles that I would like to share with you. All of these books deal with improving your poetry writing.

If you can track them down at your public library, I am sure you will find them to be very useful.

• The Virtues of Poetry. James Longenbach. Graywolf Press. 2013
• How to Write a Poem. John Redmond. Blackwell Publishing. 2006
• You Can Write Poetry. Jeff Mock. Writer's Digest Books. 1998
• Listening to the Bells. Learning to Read Poetry by Writing Poetry. Florence Grossman. Boynton/Cook Publishers, Inc. 1991.

Enjoy your long weekend.

Marie-Therese Colimon Reading Poems

I came across this video of Marie-Therese Colimon reading poems. She is reading in French though, but it is a lovely reading, and I could sense her passion.

Hope my French speakers will enjoy it. 

Marie-Therese Colimon-Hall

Previously, Poets of the Caribbean highlighted the works of Haitian poet, Rene Depestre. This month, we will look at another Haitian writer, the versatile Marie-Therese Colimon-Hall.

Marie-Therese was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti in 1918. Playwriting was her first focus, but she also wrote short stories, essays, novels and poems. She published her first poems under the pseudonym 'Mary Bec'.  In 1975, she won the France-Haiti Literary prize for Son of Misery.

Marie-Therese Colimon-Hall died in 1997.

The following are just samples of this prolific writer's work:

• The Slave Girl (Play)
• The Song of the Musician (Play)
• Marie-Claire Felix (Play)
• Firefly (Play)
• My Notebook Entries (selection of poems)
• At Pipirite Singing (a collection of unpublished poems set to music by Angel Mendez)

 

Word Weaving, etc.

Hi readers,

Hope you are enjoying the nice Fall weather, if you are in colder climes, and if your are not, I do hope that you are soaking up some sun on a beautiful beach somewhere. Good for you.

I am currently reading Word Weaving: A Creative Approach to Teaching and Writing Poetry, by David Johnson as I work on refining my poetry writing. I came across this interesting quote in his book:

"To create poetry is as natural as breathing. Poetry and breathing have an essential connection".He goes on to share the following quote by Edmund Carpenter:

"In Eskimo, the word 'to make poetry' is the word 'to breathe'; both are derivatives of anerca--the soul which is eternal: the breath of life. A poem is words infused with breath or spirit. "Let me breathe of it," says the poet-maker and then begins: "I have put my poem in order on the threshold of my tongue".

If you can get your hands on a copy, it is a great read. So, what's on your reading list right now?

This month, I want to re-visit the poetry of Haiti, and will be looking at the writings of Marie-Therese Colimon. As usual, I look forward to your comments.



 

Poets of the Caribbean is Three Years Old

Dear Readers,

Poets of the Caribbean is three years old this month! Thank you, thank you, thank you for your interest, comments and participation in past giveaways.

My main reasons for launching this blog were to highlight the works and achievements of Caribbean poets and to share beautiful Caribbean poems with the world. From your comments and my blog statistics, I  am pleased with the level of interest there is in Caribbean poetry. Here are some interesting facts I have unearthed from my statistics over the past three years:

• 71,378 page views so far
• Most popular post is the poem, Rainy Day, by Louise Bennett
• The top ten countries viewing the blog, in order, are the United States, Jamaica, United Kingdom, France, Canada, Germany, Indonesia, Trinidad & Tobago, Belize, and Russia
• To date, I have compiled a list of over 200 poets from the English, Spanish, French and Dutch-speaking Caribbean, and this list is by no means complete

I appreciate your interest in beautiful Caribbean poetry, and I look forward to sharing more with you. Stay tuned throughout the month.....

 

Ciudades Como Mares

Ciudades Como Mares, (in English, Cities Like Seas) Maria Arrillaga's latest book, was reviewed recently on the blog, Repeating Islands.

The poems in Ciudades Como Mares span the period 1966 to 1993.

 

Maria Arrillaga

Welcome back to Poets of the Caribbean! I hope you had a great summer break. I am pleased to shine the spotlight on Puerto Rican poets, and during September, I am focusing on Maria Arrillaga,

Maria Arrillaga was born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico in 1940. Her work has appeared in Confrontation, Festa Da Palabra, Tercer Milenio and Cupey. Arrillaga taught at the University of Puerto Rica and has served as secretary of PEN's Women's Committee and is a past president of PEN Puerto Rican Center.

Below are her poetry collections to date:

• Vida en el Tiempo (1974)
• New York in the Sixties (1976)
• Cascada de Sol (1977)
• Poemas 747 (1977)
• Frescura (1981)
• Yo Soy Fili Mele (1999).

I hope that you will check out some of Maria Arrillaga's poems, and you can also connect with her on Facebook.

 

Summer Break

Hi dear readers,

I hope that you are enjoying these remaining summer days (of course, if you are in the Caribbean or other warmer climes that have summer all year round, you are fine).

Poets of the Caribbean will be taking a break during the month of August, while I catch up on some reading, and link up with family and friends, etc.

I am looking forward to connecting with you in September, as together we explore great Caribbean poetry and learn more about other interesting Caribbean poets.

Stay tuned!

Edward Kamau Brathwaite

Edward Kamau Brathwaite is a Barbadian poet with international acclaim. He was educated at Harrison College in Barbados, Pembroke College, and Sussex University, where he completed his PhD in Philosophy.

Check out the Poetry Foundation's article on Brathwaite. Enjoy also, Brathwaite's reading from his collection, Born to Slow Horses.

Edward Baugh

Poet and scholar Edward Baugh was born in Port Antonio, Jamaica in 1936. He started writing poetry while he was a high school student. His studied English Literature at the University College of the West Indies, and later completed graduate studies at Queen's University and the University of Manchester.

Baugh was also Professor of English at the University of the West Indies, Mona and Cave Hill campuses. Professor Baugh also held the position of Public Orator of the University of the West Indies for over 30 years!

Professor Baugh's scholarship is extensive, and he is considered an authority on St. Lucian poet and Nobel Prize winner, Derek Walcott. Below are a few of Professor Baugh's works:

• West Indian Poetry 1900-1970: A Study of Decolonization (1971)
• Another Life: Derek Walcott
• Memory as Vision (1978)
• Critics on Caribbean Literature (editor, 1978) 
• A Tale From the Rainforest (1988)
• It Was the Singing (2000)

Here is a link to Professor Baugh's discussion of his life, work and Caribbean poets and poetry in Caribbean Beat.

A truly outstanding Caribbean poet!

Reviews of Andre Bagoo's Trick Vessels

I am sharing Leshanta Roop's review of Andre Bagoo's Trick Vessels, in the Caribbean Book Blog. Also, check out another review of Bagoo's collection by Repeating Islands.

 

Andre Bagoo

 

This month, I am shining the spotlight on poet, Andre Bagoo. Andre Bagoo was born in Trinidad and is a journalist with Newsday, a Trinidadian publication.

Trick Vessels is his first poetry collection, and his work has appeared in The Caribbean Writer, Boston Review and Caribbean Review of Books.

You can check out Andre's blog here, or connect with him on Facebook or Twitter.

Stay tuned throughout May for more on Andre and his work.
 

The Road to Respect

I hope that you have enjoyed all the poetry month activities, as well as the poems I have shared. As we wind down, I'd like to share one more of my poems, The Road to Respect. In this fast-paced, connected yet not not always connecting world, let's hope we take the time to show some RESPECT!

By way of background on this poem, I was asked by my former boss in Toronto to write it to accompany a research article on nurses' feelings of being respected or not respected. It was originally published in Nursing Science Quarterly (January 2009, volume 22).

The Road to Respect

I spoke.
You listened.
I felt valued and honored.
You shared your opinion.
I trusted your wisdom.
The circle of respect was complete.
We saw in each other's eyes our common humanity.
Now, moving to a zone of mutual affirmation,
we felt safe to trust, and learn, and nurture
in the give-and-take of life.

Copyright 2009 Yasmin Morais

Questions in Jamaican Patois

I am sharing another of my poems with you as we celebrate National Poetry Month. Hope you will enjoy Questions in Jamaica Patois.

Questions in Jamaican Patois

Wha you fi do when you back gainst di wall,
and yu want fi bawl, but di tears won't come at all?
Wha you fi do when you heart break in two
and di smaddy you really check for just don't love you?

Wha you fi seh when you feel like you cyan go on
and you just want fi run?
Whey you fi go when you feel boxed in?
When di rain a fall and the dutty still tough?

When people a gi you a 6 for a 9
and others just nuh want fi tow di line?
Is every little ting really going to be alright?
Will you really see clearly when the rain is gone,
and your many rivers have been crossed?

Copyright 2011 Yasmin Morais. From Cane Field to the Sea

Poem in your Pocket Day

Today is "Poem in Your Pocket Day". The idea is to carry around a poem or two to share with someone. Check out poets.org's site for ways in which you can share poetry today. Have fun!

Monique Mangrum's Choose

I am pleased to introduce poet Monique T. Mangrum, and to share with you her poem, Choose, as we continue to celebrate poetry month.

Monique describes herself as a "passionate lyricist", and I agree. As you read Monique's poem, I hope you will reflect on some of the choices you make each day.

Choose

I choose to make choices, consciously every day

I choose to thank God as I arise anew

I choose to celebrate as the birds sing and the flowers wave

I choose to hum along and give praise

I choose to make choices as I navigate my way through traffic

I choose not to allow bad attitudes to wreak havoc

I choose to extol and laugh effortlessly

I choose to speak warmly and exhort others continuously

My choices define me and have helped me become who I am

There is only one; Me and that's who I choose to be.

Copyright 2013 Monique Mangrum.

 

Reprinted with author's permission.

 

Hong Kong Connection

Sharing another poem of mine for poetry month.

 Hong Kong Connection

What was her lot?

How and when did she reach this island melting pot?
She continues to elude me,
this Chinese great-grandmother,
hiding in genealogical databases.

Futile searches.
Secrets forever buried
with my father’s forgotten stories.
I wasn’t a recorder of memories then;
too young to know the importance
of fleeting words.

Hong Kong memories.

Tsang or Sang?
Confronting at last,
my Asian past.

Copyright 2013 Yasmin Morais

April is Poetry Month - Sharing Postcard from Havana

April is poetry month! As a poet, each year I look forward to this month-long celebration in honor of poets and their poetry. Isn't it great that we get one whole month to highlight this beautiful art form?

So, in honor of poetry month, I am sharing my poem entitled Postcard From Havana, which is my reflection on a special time I shared there. I hope you enjoy it!

Postcard from Havana

At Havana airport

separated by a curtain of glass,

we air-touched.
Our unending gaze
kept at bay the many questions
crying out for answers
that perhaps our hearts
did not want to know.

Ridiculous, me leaving,

you arriving,
because you refused to be bound
by time and order.
Our together trip
fragmented,
so I sojourned Havana solo.

I smiled a week later

at the postcard you sent
and what you said was
your most expensive phone call ever.

Memories are the only roads,

stories, the only bridges
to haunting flashes;
nostalgia a permanent keepsake
of a love that could have been.

Copyright Yasmin Morais 2013

More spotlight on Haiti's poets

I hope you have enjoyed the posts during February and March on Haitian poets. I certainly have learned so much about Haiti's rich literary heritage, and the breath of collections from Haiti's poets. In fact, I just found this link on another interesting Haitian poet, Michele Voltaire Marcelin, which I hope you will check out.

I want to encourage you to continue to delve into the writings of Haitian poets. There are very good translations of these collections around, if you do not read French.

April is poetry month, and every year, I look forward to the many celebrations which honor poets and their poetry. I hope that you will find the time to participate in some of these.

• Purchase a poetry collection
• Attend an open mic event
• Read some poetry as a form of relaxation
• Write some poetry
• Write a review of poetry you have read

Poetry is fun, so find your inner poet!

Stay tuned as I celebrate poetry month with you.

Leon Laleau

Leon Laleau, a distinguished Haitain diplomat, politician and poet, was born in Port-au-Prince in 1892. He held degrees in law and science, and represented Haiti as a diplomat at the United Nations as well as diplomatic missions in Cuba, Panama, Lima, Santiago, Paris, London and Rome.

He was a prolific writer of poetry, plays and novels, and in 1962, Laleau received the Edgar Allan Poe prize. Leon Laleau died in 1979.

Below are some of Laleau's works:

Poems:

• La Flèche au Cœur (1926)
• Le Rayon des Jupes (1928)
• Abréviations (1928)
• Musique Nègre (1931)
• Ondes Courtes (1933)

Novels:

Jusqu'au Bord (1916)

La Danse des Vagues (1919) 

Le Choc (1932)

A Voix Basse (1920)

Plays:

La Pluie et le Beau Temps

Le Tremplin

Kreyolicious, a blog about Haitian literature and culture, has a review of Laleau's novel, Le Choc.

If you read French, check out some more information on Laleau here.

Rene Depestre

Rene Depestre is a celebrated and interesting poet from Haiti. He was born in Jacmel, Haiti on August 29, 1926 and was educated at Petion College, and at the Sorbonne (1946-1950).

As a result of his participation in the student-led movements of 1946, during the presidency of Elie Lescot, Depestre was imprisoned and experienced exile.

He lived in Cuba during two different periods: He was first invited by Nicolas Guillen, and later by Che Guevara. Depestre's stay in Cuba led to his writing being influenced by Alejo Carpentier's magical realism. He was also a founder of Casa de las Americas.

Rene Depestre has a vast collection of writings, and in addition to poetry, he has written novels, essays and journal articles. Below is a sampling of Depestre's writings:

• Etincelles (1945)
• Gerbe de sang (1946)
• Un arc-en-ciel pour l'Occident chretien (1967)
• Poet in Cuba (1973)
• Le Mat de Cocagne (1979) - a novel
• Alleluia pour une femme-jardin (1980)
• Hadriana in All My Dreams (1988)

He won the Prix Goncourt de la nouvelle prize for his novel, Alleluia pour une femme-jardin, and numerous prizes for Hadriana in All My Dreams.

After leaving Cuba, Depestre worked for UNESCO until his retirement to France in 1986. Depestre travelled extensively throughout Europe, South America and Asia.

Jean-Fernand Brierre

Jean-Fernand Brierre, poet and dramatist, was born in Jeremie, Haiti on September 23, 1909. Brierre served as Haiti's ambassador to Argentina.

His collections include:

Chansons secretes (1933)
Black Soul (1947)
Dessalines nous parle (1953)
Les Aieules (1954)
La Source (1956)
La Nuit (1957)
Images d'Or (1959)
Decouverte (1960)
Aux Champs pour Occide (1960)
Or, Uranium, Cuivre, Radium (1961)
Un Noel pour Goree (1980)

Themes from his poetry touched on black pride, the American occupation of Haiti, and the achievement of Haitian independence.

If you read French, and are interested in learning more about Brierre, check out this site.

Jean-Fernand Brierre died in 1992.

Haitian Poets

This month, I am mixing things up a bit. Instead of sharing about just one poet, during February and March, I will be highlighting the work of Haitian poets.

Some of Haiti's well-known poets are:

• Jean Brierre
• Rene Depestre
• Leon Laleau
• Rene Philoctete
• Marlene Phipps
• Jacques Roumain
• Patrick Sylvain

Here is a link to the full list of Caribbean poets. If you know of a Haitian poet that is not on the list, please leave me a comment with their name(s) and I will update the list.

Below are some interesting readings on Haitian poetry, including a few anthologies:

• Love and Other Poems by Haitian Youth (Des Poemes d'Amour et d'Autres Par Des Jeunes Haitiens. Paul Germaine. Trilingual Press, 2004.
• Open Gate: An Anthology of Haitian Creole Poetry. Paul Laraque, et al. Curbstone Press, 2001.
• Poetry in Haitian Creole: A Guide for Beginners and Translators. Emmanuel W. Vedrine. Soup to Nuts Publishers, 1993.
• The Renaissance of Haitian Poetry. Naomi Mills Garrett. Presence Africaine. 1963 (Even though this is pretty dated, I thought I would include it).
• Through A Black Veil: Readings in French Caribbean Poetry. E. Anthony Hurley. Africa World Press, 2000

 

2013 Bocas Lit Fest

Save the date! This year's Bocas Lit Fest will be held in Port of Spain, Trinidad from April 25-28. For more details, check out the Bocas Lit Fest website.

Books may be entered in three categories: poetry, fiction, and literary non-fiction. Prizes include an award of US$10,000 by One Caribbean Media. Winners will be announced in April.

Reloj (The Clock) By Nicolas Guillen

Sharing a last Guillen poem, Reloj (The Clock). I am thinking, how apt, since January sort of flew by. Hope you have been enjoying this month of Afro-Cuban poetry by the talented Senor Guillen.

Please stay tuned during February as I turn the spotlight on the poetry of Haiti. For now, enjoy Reloj:

Reloj

Me gustan ciertas horas, como las 3 menos cuarto,
porque el reloj parece que tiene
una actitud fraterna, acogedora,
como si fuera a darnos un abrazo.

El tiempo, asi, es un Cristo en agonia
que por la herida del costado
va desangrandose sutilmente
entre el Futuro y el Pasado.

The Clock

I enjoy certain hours, like a quarter to three,
because the clock seems to hold
the warm friendliness of a brother
almost ready to embrace you.

Time, too, is a Christ in agony
bleeding gently
from the wound in his side
between the Future and the Past.

Copyright Nicolas Guillen. From Poemas de Transicion (1927-1931).

Readings on Nicolas Guillen

So, I hope you have been enjoying the works of Cuban poet Nicolas Guillen. I certainly have learned a whole lot more about him than I did in the course on Spanish Caribbean writers that I took at UWI, Mona.

Thanks to poet Leonard Dabydeen for sharing his comments, including several of Guillen's poems that I had not read before. Much appreciated, Leonard.

In this post, I would like to share with you some titles on Guillen and his work in case you would like to read more about him.

• Yoruba from Cuba. Selected Poems by Nicolas Guillen. Translated by Salvador Ortiz-Carboneres. Peepal Tree Press Ltd. 2005. 
• Nicolas Guillen. Popular Poet of the Caribbean. Ian Isidore Smart. University of Missouri Press. 1990.
• Cuba's Nicolas Guillen: Poetry and Ideology. Keith Ellis. University of Toronto Press. 1983.
• Man-Making Words. Selected Poems of Nicolas Guillen. Translated and annotated by Robert Marquez and David Arthur McMurray. University of Massachusetts Press. 1972.
• Whole Island: Six Decades of Cuban Poetry: A Bilingual Anthology. Edited by Mark Weiss. University of California Press. 2009. (I previously recommended this excellent resource on Cuban poetry when I featured poet Nancy Morejon.

Nicolas Guillen's "Rios" (Rivers)

I'm sharing Nicolas Guillen's Rios (Rivers):

Rios

Tengo del Rin, del Rodano, del Ebro,
tengo los ojos llenos;
tengo del Tiber y del Tamesis,
tengo del Volga, del Danubio,
tengo los ojos llenos.

Pero yo se que el Plata,
pero yo se que el Amazonas bana;
yo se que el Misisipi,
pero yo se que el Magdalena bana;
yo se que el Almendares,
pero yo se que el San Lorenzo bana;
yo se que el Orinoco,
pero yo se que banan
tierras de amargo limo donde mi voz florece
y lentos bosques presos en sangrientas raices.
Bebo en tu copa, America,
en tu copa de estano,
anchos rios de lagrimas!

Dejad, dejadme,
dejadme ahora junto al agua.

***********

Rivers

With the Rhine, the Rhone and the Ebro,
my eyes are filled;
with the Tiber, the Thames,
the  Volga, and the Danube,
my eyes are filled.

But I know that the Plata,
and I know that the Amazon laps;
but I know that the Mississippi,
and I know that the Magdalena laps;
I know that the Almendares,
but I know that the San Lorenzo laps;
and I know that the Orinoco,
I know they bathe
lands of bitter mud where my voice blooms
and languid woods imprisoned in bloody roots.
America, I drink from your cup,
from your tin cup,
great rivers of tears!

Leave me, leave me
leave me now close to the water.

Copyright 2005 Nicolas Guillen.
 

5 Interesting Things About Nicolas Guillen

As we continue to focus on Cuban poet Nicolas Guillen this month, I would like to share 5 interesting things I learned about him:

• He was born the year in which Cuba gained its independence from Spain (1902)
• His Elegy for Emmett Till (Elegia A Emmett Till), was published in New York's The Crisis magazine in 1955.
• Guillen briefly studied law at Havana University, but later returned to Camaguey, where he was born, to study journalism.
• During Batista's dictatorship in the 1950s, Guillen was in exile in Paris. He returned to Cuba in 1958.
• Guillen was President of the Union of Cuban Writers and Artists, which allowed him to travel the world as a cultural ambassador.

Guillen's Sensemaya

I remember the first time we were learning Guillen's very rhythmic and upbeat Sensemaya  in my primary school class in Jamaica. All the kids in the class were giggling, because the words "mayombe bombe" sound similar to a popular Jamaican curse word. The poor teacher had such a hard time getting us to settle down and focus on learning the poem. Here is Sensemaya in the original Spanish, with the English translation below:

Sensemaya

Canto para matar a una culebra.

Mayombe - bombe - mayombe!
Mayombe - bombe - mayombe!
Mayombe - bombe - mayombe!

La culebra tiene los ojos de vidrio;
la culebra viene y se enreda en un palo;
con sus ojos de vidrio, en un palo,
con sus ojos de vidrio.

La culebra camina sin patas;
la culebra se esconde en la yerba;
caminando se esconde en la yerba,
caminando sin patas.

Mayombe - bombe - mayombe!
Mayombe - bombe - mayombe!
Mayombe - bombe - mayombe!

Tu le das con el hacha y se muere:
dale ya!
No le des con el pie, que tu muerde,
no le des con el pie, que se va!

Sensemaya, la culebra,
sensemaya.
Sensemaya, con sus ojos,
sensemaya.
Sensemaya, con su lengua,
sensemaya.
Sensemaya, con su boca,
sensemaya.

English Translation:

Sensemaya

Chant for killing a small snake

Mayombe - bombe - mayombe!
Mayombe - bombe - mayombe!
Mayombe - bombe - mayombe!

The small snake has eyes of glass;
the small snake comes, curls round a stick;
with its eyes of glass, around a stick,
with its eyes of glass.

The small snake walks with no feet;
the small snake hides in the grass;
walking it hides in the grass,
walking with no feet.

Mayombe - bombe - mayombe!
Mayombe - bombe - mayombe!
Mayombe - bombe - mayombe!

You strike it with an axe and it dies:
strike it now!
Don't kick it with your foot, for it bites,
don't kick it with your foot, it will escape!

Sensemaya, the snake,
sensemaya.
Sensemaya, with its eyes,
sensemaya.
Sensemaya, with its tongue,
sensemaya.
Sensemaya, with its mouth,
sensemaya.
 

Nicolas Guillen

Nicolas Guillen Batista was an Afro-Cuban poet, journalist and political activist. He was born in Camaguey, Cuba on July 10, 1902 and died in 1989.

Guillen was a part of the poesia negra or black poetry movement which focused on the blending of aspects of black and white culture. His first collection was Motivos de son in 1930. This was followed by West Indies Ltd. in 1934.  He was noted for his rhythmic poetry style and use of onomatopoeia. This was notable in perhaps his most popular poem, Sensemaya.

Nicolas Guillen was the National Poet of Cuba. He also received the Laureate of the International Botev Prize in 1976 and the National Prize for Literature in 1983.

Guillen's style and themes impacted the writings of later Afro-Cuba poets, such as Nancy Morejon, who was previously featured on this blog.