Haiti’s Ecological Tale of the Love Between a Girl and a Fish

Tezen Nan Dlo By Dady Chery Haiti Chery About the story. Tezen Nan Dlo is one of Haiti’s most popular folk tales. The Kreyòl “te” indicates the past tense, and “zen” means “hook.” At its heart are the enticements of the natural world, … Continue reading →

Francois Duvalier Interview in English, 1968

By Alan Whicker and Frank Pocklington, BBC, ITV, Yorkshire Television | Commentary by Dady Chery, Haiti Chery. Selected scenes of 1968 Haiti, plus a remarkably extensive and candid interview, in English, between a quite fearless British reporting team and Francois Duvalier.

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A Poem by Michael Leunig: Spring Diary of a Small, Brown Bird

By Michael Leunig, Spring Diary of a Small, Brown Bird | Commentary by Dady Chery, Haiti Chery. The poem below is a favorite of mine and the only one I’ve found so far that describes falling in love entirely from the point of view of an animal. From a collection by Leunig titled: Short Notes from the Long History of Happiness (Penguin Books Australia, Ltd, 1996).

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Three Poems By Rene Depestre | Trois poèmes de René Depestre

By Rene Depestre. The Poet, The Final Degree of Exile, Consciences in Bloom: three offerings from the poetry collection In a State of Poetry (En Etat de Poesie, Les Editeurs Francais Reunis, Paris, 1980). (French, with English | French bio)

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Poem From My Mother | Poème de ma mère

“Le baiser d’une mère” | Commentary by Dady Chery, Haiti Chery. Before I could speak or even breathe, my mother, with a broad smile, read this poem to me. I copy it here from a version she wrote from memory. Based on the style, some of the phrases, and her fondness for Oswald Durand, I think it is his. (French | English)

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Excerpt from ‘La Belle Amour Humaine’ By Lyonel Trouillot | Extrait de ‘La Belle Amour Humaine’ par Lyonel Trouillot

By Lionel Trouillot | Translated by Linda Coverdale. The Grand Prix du Roman Métis was awarded last week to Haitian poet and novelist Lyonel Trouillot for his novel La Belle Amour Humaine, published by Actes Sud (2011). (English | French)

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