In Search of Many Things (Polia)

Ralba

Topi

Kap

Teke Mab

Boul Chosèt

Balon Kapòt ak Ba

Fistibal

I am on a bike again going to take a train. This time I am on route 9 by my family’s village in Laplaine. I see many horses that have been killed for their meat. Some of them are rotting. I passed a big one and then I see myself in this train station. The station is the terminus. There are these two trains that seem to be leaving at the same time. One pulls in first and the other comes right after it. I get into the second one. When it reaches the next stop, it is no longer in operation it is heading back to the previous station. There is this man who works in the station who says that the train has this little button if you push it; it will take new commands. I go back to the previous station and get into another that is leaving. I quickly find a seat and there was this young man who also ran into the train before the door closed. He found a seat not far from me. We acknowledged each other before finding myself in another dream where I am collecting evidence in a medical office. A woman is waiting for me outside and there are these guys who keep coming to the door. I try not to make them think that I am taking the records. The woman says that she had put the records in a certain order in a composition notebook. There is a special code that she uses. I manage to get the records out of the office, and we make our way out.

Parts of dreams
When we entered his room -328- the godfather of Olaga greeted Oladwa Casirhen whose legal name is Evancta Casirhen with “Mèt Mon!” He responded, “Lene” Then asked, “Kote Olaga?” Olaga’s godfather replied, “Li la wi!” - he is here. He spoke of money he wanted to send to his wife and son, whom the family believes are frauds -especially Olaga’s aunt’ Dithe, his godfather’s twin. According to her, the son is not his, and the wife is only after his resources. I mentioned the photo of Evancta. He confirmed what Olaga had suspected: a relationship between Tettez and his younger Evancta. He revealed that Tettez gave birth to children for Evancta; none of them survided. Olaga’s godfather asked, “How is that possible? Was Véleh not around?” Véleh Casirhen, Olaga’s maternal grandfather, whose name forms part of Olaga’s legal name was known as a hardworking man devoted to education and fiercely protective of his children. He carried a cane said to hold magic, capable of warding off chanpwèl or disturbing their nocturnal processions. His sons Oldwa and Cedual Casirhen abused the power of the cane by wandering deep into the night during the hours when chanpwèl conducted their rites or collected souls. As Oladwa spoke of his missing brother Evancta, a secret began to surface but it was interrupted by a care provider entering the room. Olaga’s godfather, sensing that his older brother Cedual Binas might be implicated, changed the subject. What did it matter? Olaga’s father was already implicated in other ways.

Pieces of stories
Kaw Mango a poko rèk Poko rèk poko rèk Left hand lets a stone go, hitting the mango stem. Booom! A bunch of mangos on the ground Ben’s left hand in the summer was the surest way to eat mangos when they had not fallen when we did not climb the trees when the mango toufé in plantain leaves had already gone to market known by the absent of their perfume The trees were given names like deblozay We watched in awe!! A hound of boys from lakou sous You could not tell if they were cousins or brothers They ran on do rigòl and nan sous Fetching mangos Scouting mango trees Mango madan blan Mango miska, oh mango miska when your skin green and full of freckles, we know your sweetness!! Mango fransik Mango jeremie oh the tree where a certain baby boy honed his crawling skills Mango batis Mango kòn Mango Rosalie Mango po rèd that tree where they said te gen yon zonbi. Pa pase la a midi pa pase a minwi Mango kawòt Now in Miami they sit around in lakou Yanyann Reminiscing!! Kaw mango a poko rèk Poko rèk poko rèk Wòwòt wòwòt wòwòt wòwòt wòwòt wòwòt wòwòt

Pieces of poems