Poems

=**Poems**=

Translated by Marvel Alves Henry for Créole Month 16 October 2010
 * Kan yon lanng mò - When a Language Dies - Cuando muere una lengua**

Kan yon lanng mò, bagay divin-an, zétwal, sòlèy épi lalin, sé bagay lézònm-lan, katjilé ék santi, yo pa wéfléchi adan miwè-sala ankò

Kan yon lanng mò, tout sa i ni adan latè-alosyon ék lawivyè, zanimo épi plant, pa katjilé asou yo, pa di non-yo, yo pa ègzisté apwézan.

Kan yon lanng mò, finèt-la épi lapòt-la fèmé, fèmé a tout moun latè-a, yo pa ké konnèt yon lòt mannyè, pou kwiyé sé bagay divin épi bagay lézònm-lan ankò é sé sa i vlé di pou ègzisté épi viv an latè-a

Kan yon lanng mò, tout pawòl lanmou, sonn doulè épi tandwès, pitèt sé vyé chanson-an, sé vyé kont-la, sé pawòl-la, sé lapwiyè-a, pyèsonn pa mélé ki moun pa ké sa wépété yo ankò.

Kan yon lanng mò, anpil moun konsa ja mò, épi talè plis ankò ké mò, sé miwè-a, kwazé pou toutan, lé vwa somm, an silans pou toutan, lézònm ka vin pli maléwé, kan yon lanng mò.


 * When a Language Dies**

"When a language dies, the divine things, stars, sun and moon, the human things. to think and to feel, are no longer reflected in this mirror."

"When a language dies, all that there is in this world, oceans and rivers, animals and plants, do not think of them, do not pronounce their names, they do not exist now."

"When a language dies, the window and the door are closed up to all the people of the world, no longer will they be shown a different way to name the divine and human things which is what it means to be and to live on the earth."

"When a language dies, its words of love, intonations of pain and caring, perhaps the old songs, the old stories, the speeches, the prayers, no one no matter whom will be able to repeat them again."

"When a language dies, then many have died, and many more will die soon, mirrors forever broken, shadows of voices forever silenced, humanity grows poorer when a language dies."

- "When a Language Dies", translated from the Aztec by Miguel Leon Portillo (English translation: John Ross) []