Synopses & Reviews
Open Gate is the first bilingual volume of Haitian Creole poetry published in English. Seven years in the making, this anthology is the result of the dedication of its editors and translators, Paul Laraque, Jack Hirschman and the Haitian poet Boadiba, as well as Max Manigat, one of the first teachers of Creole on the university level who was an invaluable advisor.
The editors focus on contemporary Creole poetry that reflects the struggle for human rights in Haiti. The book is divided into three sections: Pioneers of Modern Haitian Creole poetry, beginning with the founder of modern Haitian Creole literature, Felix Morisseu-Leroy (19131998); the flowering of Haitian poetry as represented by the literary movement, "Society of Butterflies," some of whose members were jailed or exiled by the bloody Duvalier dictatorship; and the New Generation featuring primrily those poets in the Diaspora whose work has been published in the last 15 years.
Review
"...this collection demands respect for Haitian Creole and the people who speak, write, and live in this language." --
Martín EspadaReview
"The beauty of this book is that it presents new voices discussing old subjects." --
American Book ReviewSynopsis
Open Gate is the first bilingual volume of Haitian Creole poetry published in English. Seven years in the making, this anthology is the result of the dedication of its editors and translators, Paul Laraque, Jack Hirschman and the Haitian poet Boadiba, as well as Max Manigat, one of the first teachers of Creole on the university level who was an invaluable advisor.
The editors focus on contemporary Creole poetry that reflects the struggle for human rights in Haiti. The book is divided into three sections: Pioneers of Modern Haitian Creole poetry, beginning with the founder of modern Haitian Creole literature, Felix Morisseu-Leroy (19131998); the flowering of Haitian poetry as represented by the literary movement, "Society of Butterflies," some of whose members were jailed or exiled by the bloody Duvalier dictatorship; and the New Generation featuring primrily those poets in the Diaspora whose work has been published in the last 15 years.
We Pass Through A Foreigner's HouseWe go up a foreigner's steps
And find our children
Sweeping his floor
We pass through a foreigner's house
And find our paintings
On his wall
We hear our music coming from his gullet
We enter a foreigner's kitchen
And find our dove
In his cooking pot
He's trying to cook our bird alive
He's trying to smother our wild dove
Someone's lifting the lid
The dove's escaping
Leaving on the fire
An empty pot
That's burning.
About the Author
The poet Paul Laraque was born in Haiti in 1920. At present Laraque devotes his time to his writing and to his work as Secretary of the Association of Haitian Writers Abroad. Jack Hirschman authored more than 25 translations of poetry from 8 languages. His most recent book is Endless Threshold.