Open Gate: An Anthology of Haitian Creole Poetry

by Paul Laraque (Editor), Jack Hirschman (Editor), Boadiba (Translator)

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 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 primarily those poets in the Diaspora whose work has been published in the last 15 years.

Genres: Poetry

240 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2001

Reviews

[jess ~has abandoned GR~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meaningful poetry about hope, fear, folklore, protest, and all the other parts of life.

A little snippet from Pyè Banbou (Ernst Mirville):

Pa ba-m manje
si m'grangou:
m'pa bezwen bezwen-ou.
Se travay m'mande.

Don't give me food
if I'm hungry
I don't need your need.
It's work I'm asking for.

[Kathryn McKendry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful collection

[Nadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read of Haitian poetry. It was wonderful to see the poems translated into English alongside the poems written in Haitian Creole.