DJ Okawari - Luv Letter

Life goes on....I am slowly healing from the irreparable loss of my baby brother.  I am reading his last text messages everyday..because I cannot let go. However he is gone..He crossed that bridge...I miss him...I hope he can see that I am trying my best to smile.
 I am trying to keep in mind what I wrote last year about life and may God help me.


Our individual life is a singly infinite sequence but we must remember that Life is a double-infinite sequence. It means that “it has neither a first nor a final element”. So we must be gentle with ourselves and remember that we are children of the Universe. We must enjoy each step of the process and still believe, hope, dream, and keep faith.  From here

 Luv Letter from DJ Okawari  is full of hope and warms the soul.

Quote of Heraclitus

"The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts. Think only on those things that are in line with your principles and can bear the light of day. The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you do is who you become. Your integrity is your destiny - it is the light that guides your way."

Πάντα ῥεῖ (panta rhei) "everything flows"


Heraclitus.

On Death by Kahlil Gibran from The PROPHET

On Death
Than Almitra spoke, saying, "We would ask now of Death."
And he said: You would know the secret of death.
 But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life?
The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light.
If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life.

For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.
In the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond;
And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring.
Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.

Your fear of death is but the trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the king whose hand is to be laid upon him in honour.
Is the sheered not joyful beneath his trembling, that he shall wear the mark of the king?
Yet is he not more mindful of his trembling?
For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?
And what is to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?
Only when you drink form the river of silence shall you indeed sing.
And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.
And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.

Source here
......

RIP David Nkunzumwami aka Dawudi

My baby brother was my samurai. He was a great  man.
He was and is my angel. Je t'aime.........
His smile and love are forever in my heart.
I love you, may you rest in peace.

Aline Nkunzumwami aka Ané
 David was here....David is here

David,
Tu seras a jamais dans mon coeur ce chef d'oeuvre inachevé.
Ce sublime poème d'amour et de compassion qui résonne dans l'éternité.
Ton sourire réconforte nos cœurs meurtris.
Le temps nous a échappé mais ta presence restera graver dans nos vies.
La magie de ton caractère nous a offert des fleuves de fou rires
et des oceans de joies. Ta magie nous a tous reunis, au-delà de tout,
nous sommes tous ensemble, une seule famille.

David mon petit Samouraï, tu es un grand homme a la hauteur de tes rêves.
J’accepte que tu nous quitte un peu car la vie est un Mystère.
Petit frère repose en paix, car nous vivrons tous pleinement en ta memoire
et avec le sourire.
Ta soeur qui t’aime...
Never give up, never surrender...

 you are missed.....

The Middle of the World (O Caminho das Nuvens) by Vicente Amorim

The Middle of the World (O Caminho das Nuvens) is one of my favorite movie of the year. The story is about a family road trip on bicycles throughout Brazil looking for jobs. It is beautifully made. It is intense and weirdly  soothing. Yes, it gives a real perspective of how hard it  is to make a living in this global economy.  It is a simple movie that captures  the conflicts and complexities of life and family. I just love it! A must watch!!! On Netflix oh yes...In Portuguese with English subtitles.. Enjoy!!!

Same Moonlight for our Dreams

The Middle of the World is a road movie on bicycles. It is freely adapted from the true story of an unemployed truck driver who, with his wife and five children, pedals from Paraíba, in the poverty-stricken Northeast of Brazil, all the way to Rio de Janeiro looking for a job. Romão (the father) feels destined to earn 1000 reais (about 300 US$) a month a vast sum for Brazilian standards. On four bikes, the family goes through five states, knows solidarity and indifference, aggressiveness and cordiality. A 2000-mile odyssey through the hinterlands of Brazil all the way to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's best-known postcard. The Middle of the World shows the quest for the dream of a decent life a story of dreams and hope.

Sunni Colón - Lost Tribe

This one is for my two brothers with all my love!!!
See you soon!!
 "Reality is wrong. Dreams are for real." Tupac Shakur

um kalthoum - elf laila o laila by Shayma el shayad

I just love this song!!!
Enjoy!!

Artsy Peeks of the week

Résilience by Bruce Clarke

Irisee Sombre by Isabel Chavet

The fashion Designer  by Salvador Dali

Foundation of the week:Cultures of Resistance

Cultures of Resistance:  The Official Trailer from Cultures of Resistance on Vimeo.


I stumbled on this amazing documentary by filmmaker and activist Iara Lee working with Cultures of Resistance.
Just watch the preview!!! I am buying the DVD!

CULTURES OF RESISTANCE is a project, a campaign, a mission, and a living, breathing, growing network. Our collective of activists, agitators, artists, and dreamers is primarily focused on issues of peace and justice in the global south, and we are especially interested in supporting organizations and activists around the world who are working toward international solidarity and social justice.
Worldwide, people from all walks of life are finding creative ways to oppose war and promote peace, justice, and sustainability. Culture, including film, music and food, is fertile terrain for this struggle. Education that nourishes a critical mind and fortifies the soul is just as essential. CULTURES OF RESISTANCE was established to identify and support international and diverse initiatives that embody these values, and to fortify an international network of activists and agitators, educators and artists, insurgent musicians, guerilla filmmakers, vanguard gardeners and gourmands.

California Senate Bill No.861 Conflicts Minerals in the Democratic Congo

   On October 9, 2011 the state of California did pass SB861, Corbett. Public contracts: contract eligibility: conflict minerals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This bill will ensure that companies are held accountable when using conflicts minerals. Thank you to Senator Corbett and her staff, Djibril Diop!!!! 

    In July 2010, the Dodd-Frank-Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act require the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to impose regulations on militia-controlled minerals from Congo. Companies must reveal to the SEC whether they use these minerals in their products and the steps they are taking to make sure that they are using “conflicts-free minerals”.

     I know that very few people know about blood minerals or even care about the impacts. I would like to thank everyone who made SB 861 happen, on behalf of “poor people that worked in hellish conditions” as nicely said by Tim Worstall, in" Blood in the Mobile: What,Conflict Minerals, Again? ". His point of view is very interesting and informative. He said  “Get those refiners to stop taking Congo material, or even material that they cannot trace back to a mine, and you’re done.” So SB 861 is another step forward!! According to Amy Westervelt in “AnticipatingNew SEC Rules, Tech Companies Shift To Conflict-Free Metals” , companies are  now willing to do anything to avoid PR nightmares....

    And yes, very poor people work in hellish conditions for little money every parts of the World.  So thank you California for caring!

Same Moonlight for Our Dreams...

Senate Bill No. 861
CHAPTER 715
An act to add Section 10490 to the Public Contract Code, relating to
public contracts.
[Approved by Governor October 9, 2011. Filed with
Secretary of State October 9, 2011.]

legislative counsel’s digest
SB 861, Corbett. Public contracts: contract eligibility: conflict minerals
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Existing law authorizes contracting between state agencies and private contractors and sets forth requirements for the procurement of goods and services by state agencies and the various responsibilities of state agencies and the Department of General Services in implementing state contracting procedures and policies. This bill would prohibit a scrutinized company, as defined, from entering into a contract with a state agency for goods or services, as provided. This bill would not become operative until the later of January 1, 2012, or the date the United States Securities and Exchange Commission issues the final rules and regulations on the implementation of Section 1502 of Public Law 111-203, and would become inoperative upon a specified date.

....

BILL NUMBER: SB 861 CHAPTERED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Corbett (Coauthor: Senator Anderson) (Coauthor: Assembly Member V. Manuel Pérez)

Les poèmes de Michelle by Teri Moïse

Please take  this song  as a gift. And please forgive my long absence. I was trying to slow down and enjoy my really life  over my virtual stage which I adore. However I felt like I had nothing interesting to say. And did not want surf any momentum waves to keep on posting . In this song, Teri Moïse captured exactly how I felt and how I sometimes fell.I am slowly coming back for more  moonlight dreaming with you all. 
Thank you for the sweet emails I received!!!! Merci !! 
Thank you to the 127 countries that visited!!!
And Teri Moïse please come back :)
Enjoy !!Les poèmes de Michelle by Teri Moïse
Michelle veut croire
En l'innocence que sa vie ne permet pas
Si jeune trop mûre
Elle connaît déjà la faim les nuits dures

Elle s'écrit une vie
Pour pouvoir tout changer, changer

Dans les poèmes de Michelle
Les enfants ont des ailes
Pour voler
C'est quand la nuit tombe
Qu'ils deviennent colombes
Pour rêver, rêver

S'enfuir de tout
Le crayon sera sa clef
Les feuilles son issue
Un vers une rime les mots s'unissent pour
Protéger la victime

Il lui faut ces mots
Pour pouvoir tout changer, changer

Dans les poèmes de Michelle
Les enfants ont des ailes
Pour voler
C'est quand la nuit tombe
Qu'ils deviennent colombes
Pour rêver, rêver

Avec ces mots si beaux
Elle voudrait tout changer, changer

Dans les poèmes de Michelle
Les enfants ont des ailes
Pour voler
C'est quand la nuit tombe
Qu'ils deviennent colombes
Pour rêver, rêver

Blitz The Ambassador "Best I Can" ft. Corneille

Hello to you all!!
Here is a beautiful video from Blitz The Ambassador, I  found this on Kalae All Day's Blog.
I love the story behind, one story among many but so close to us... 
Peace...
Same Moonlight for Our Dreams

Nujabes- Mystline [Full Version]

This is becoming my favorite  tune to relax and focus. My son even loves it. So I am sharing!!
This is a perfect hymn to all the dreamers. Happy Friday to you all! And Peace..
Same Moonlight for our dreams...

England riots and Historian David Starkey "The whites have become black "

Well, I did not want to comment about it at first. Then I could not resit!!!
Mr David Starkey needs to learn more about "cultures" and forget his well accepted  "patois". Seriously for an historian, his stereotypical approach did not surprised me. However,I was astonished by his confidence. This interview screams "academic racism". The colors, races, cultures and communities are just facades for a tragic discrimination against the " Have not". I fully support protests , not riots. At the end of the day, everybody chose a "camp". The truth is that  we all need to belong to a collectivity. The sad part is that racism is always used a "propaganda". Once again it is a "they vs us". And it should not be!!!

Let us not forget it is still the Same Moonlight for Our Dreams.

Watch and let me know what do you think?

Inside Job by Audrey Marrs with Jeffrey Lurie and Christina Weiss Lurie

I finally managed to sit and watch this documentary. I am all for awareness but all the "political dances" tend to annoy me. It is well done. It gives a great understanding of all the "deregulation from 1981-2011" and the "global Ponzi Scheme".  A must watch !!!

Erykah Badu - Time's a Wastin

This song is for all my brothers with all my love!!!
Same Moonlight for our Dreams

A perfect day at the beach!

My favorite pictures of the month! It was at the cliff house in San Francisco.
Life is good!
Peace and love...

Quote from August Wilson

I just love this quote!!!

“Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing. Use the pain as fuel, as a reminder of your strength.”

 August Wilson quotes (American Writer, 1945-2005)

Artsy peeks for 14 th july

Growing up in France, civic lessons were my favorite part of the school day. Our elementary school principal was the mayor of a small village(Mr Clavez... if I recall). He was so passionate about our future as citizens.  He gave us a beautiful message of hope. Thanks to him, I loved everything about  the French revolution. The Marianne was the emblem of that free republic. In high school, I found out about Cordier's sculptures. Cordier described that other part of France, which I belong. Nevertheless, when I turned eighteen years old, I rushed  to get my card of elector. So Mr Clavez did a great job.Thank you!!
Here some of Cordier busts...
Enjoy!!!

White Lion by Michael Swan

This was our evening movie last night. It is a feel good movie for children. However, it is an amazing movie. The scenes are beautifully filmed. Each scene is filled with endless metaphors. They are powerful and so real. It was a perfect way to discuss confidence, strength, weakness, fear, and life with our 8 years old.  The metamorphosis of a fragile awkward cub into a fierce lion king is fantastic.  I just found the entire movie on YouTube so I had to share!!!Thank you  Michael Swan!! Enjoy!




"When a rare white lion is born to a pride in an African valley, a Shangaan boy named Gisani (Thabo Malema) believes it his is responsibility to protect the cub, which he names Letsatsi. Tribal beliefs dictate that the lion is a messenger of the gods. But Letsatsi breaks free of his pride and must learn to survive on his own. Meanwhile, Gisani learns that a trophy hunter wishes to track Letsatsi down and kill him."

"RÉVÉ"by PAILLE

Happy Monday to you all. I would like to share this sweet melody about  a familiar dream of going back home. It is a sweet dream about nostalgic memories of childhood, culture, and  family. A sweet melody for  all the travelers and foreigners. Keep on dreaming and dancing because we are all nomads!
Same Moonlight for Our Dreams.

World Refugee Day 2011, June 20th

I just want to say thank you to my parents, for everything they have done for us. I am more than a refugee, I am here. Thank you for everything....

"Smile even through your tears. Be strong even through your fears. -Zen Habits"

Peace to you all...
Same Moonlight for Our dreams...


Rahma Profile from iActivism on Vimeo.

World Refugee Day 2011

"A coalition of individuals, activists, filmmakers and international organizations that believe we can be more effective when we work together than when we work alone.  Because of this belief, we are working together to coordinate events all around the world during the week of World Refugee Day. Whether you are a genocide prevention activist or a recent refugee, an elementary school teacher or a Rabbi, we hope you will take this day to reach out to your community and connect.

Help make the world a more compassionate place by attending or hosting an event on June 20th. If you can’t make it out that day, please take at least one other action that day and share this website with your friends and family."

Reason by Nas feat Emily

By now you all know, that I am a fan of Nas!!!
Let's not forget that "Love without reason lasts the longest! Jean-Francois Regnard"

Summer sarongs at Coco international

I did order 12 items 2 years ago. They are soft and light. All the women in my family own one. It is  wholesale so you must order 12 but at $ 6, it a sweet price for a multifunctional sarong. I always have one on me or in my purse. It can be a skirt, scarf,dress,shawl, headband, and more...Sarongs are my substitutes from Kanga.
Here a few I like from Coco International.

In love with you by Eryka Badu feat Stephen Marley

I am love with this song!!!
Thank you for the 121 countries visitors!!
Same Moonlight for Our Dreams! 
Peace and love to you all....

Tourbillon by Soha

I love the cultural mix, Afro-cuban beats, Spanish, and French. A perfect mix to dance and brighten the day. I love her elegant and unique style in this video. Soha is Algerian and Ethiopian and French from Marseilles!!!
Yes!!
Enjoy!

Erykah Badu - Out My Mind, Just In Time

OUT MY MIND JUST IN TIME from Creative Control on Vimeo.

jacked from: A Shaded View on Fashion

Book of the Week: Cultural Internationalism and World Order by Akira Iriye

This book is currently on top of my book wish list!
I like the fact that Akira Iriye analysis goes beyond traditional diplomatic history by incorporating cultural perspectives. I like the term of "cultural internationalism", I am not sure about world order but I will read this book!! As an international student, I found out that your cultural imprint goes beyond  "diplomacy", at the end you learn to adapt while understanding others. Akira Iriye seems to have a very liberal view. He is encouraging "cultural internationalism"beyond the traditional understanding of international relations as competition for power and wealth. His book was published in 1997 but I think the issue is still current!

Artsy peeks of the week

Lino Tagliapietra

Tsang Cheung-shing

Holly Lentz

Darra J Family-Baayi Yoon

This is one of my favorite african group. They are from Senegal. I love the fact that they stayed authentic to who they were.  I love this video!!!Enjoy ...

Openness and emotional duality

As spring is blessing us with all her peaceful beauty, life is sweeter than honey. Flowers are blooming, opening to keep life alive. It is not just about beautiful colors. It is about survival and procreation.   Flowers beautifully represent our emotional duality and desire to be open.  Openness is crucial to our crystallized intelligence. According to Wikipedia, Crystallized intelligence is described as a person's depth and breadth of general knowledge, vocabulary, and the ability to reason using words and numbers. It is the product of educational and cultural experience in interaction with fluid intelligence.

I definitively love spring because it encourages everyone to open up. It is a peaceful time to reflect about life.  Open can be synonym to naïve. However, naivety in children blesses them with a profound openness that adults tend to envy.  Even the naïve flower after opening up to release her scent to attract insects, she will close back to conserve resources at night. She will not waste her delicate perfume and will compete with others flowers to attract wandering insects. So openness does not always equate to credulity. 

Duality is the essence of life. Our terrestrial, emotional and moral lives are all about duality. Openness is a personal approach to life. In my opinion it gives a better chance to reach balance. We are trained to appreciate all natural dualities such male and female, light and dark, and positive and negative. 

However, we are scared to embrace our emotional duality while secretly praying for neutrality.

In high school, I start liking physics when we did learn about Newton’s law of action-reaction. “The mutual forces of action and reaction between two bodies are equal, opposite and collinear”. It made sense; life is a succession of actions-reactions.  Ironically, I became aware of the multitude of reactions for my actions. Nevertheless, I realized that being aware did not prevent me from being open. Later in college, teachers always preached the famous “think outside the box”. After years of formatting fluid reasoning, openness was required to solve problems from the “box”. I realized that “my box” was diverse, eclectic and messy. So for me the “think outside the box” meant “open your box”. Openness did allow me accept my emotional dualities. Of course being blessed with many spring, helped me mature. Time is a blessing. Enjoy your spring, live and love your dear life.

Peace…

Armando Manzane and Concha Buika-Nos Hizo Falta Tiempo

Concha Buika captured everything, I love about growing up in French Catalonia along Gitanos (Spanish Romani people). Her voice has that sensitivity from raw and real emotions. Her voice is as rough and gentle as life. She is a born Spanish from Equatorial Guinea.
We are all nomads!
Nos Hizo Falta Tiempo so live your dear life!!
Enjoy!!!
Same Moonlight for Our Dreams...

Dr Augustus White on Tavis Smiley about "Seeing Patients: Unconscious Bias in Health Care"

Charlie Rose and Tavis Smiley are the few shows, I stay up for. Last week, I stayed up late enough to watch the interview on Dr. Augustus White by Tavis Smiley. It was about Health-care, race, and health disparities in USA.  In his memoir,"Seeing Patients: Unconscious Bias in Health Care"; Dr. White addresses the issue of cultural awareness in medicine. He talk about all biases, not just race.  He believes that we need to address our own cultural biases to be more compassionate.  His argument reminds me of my father.  He did teach us that in term of health we are our best advocate.  At a very young age, we went to some doctor consultations alone because he wanted us to be responsible of our health.  Dr White emphasizes that patients  must be trained about cultural disparities as well as health-care disparities.  Dr White also talked about how he became a doctor coming from segregated South. It is delicate issue that is still current for many among us due to Socio-economics segregation. In my opinion, the message  is about  awareness of our flaws and prejudices.

Thank you Dr. Augustus  White and Tavis Smiley!

Watch the full episode. See more Tavis Smiley.

N'Deye Mélissa-Singer& Songwriter

It is with great pleasure and pride that I would like to introduce my favorite soul singer.She is my sister!!! She is pure soul!!
N'Deye Mélissa ! 
She is my shinning  star in my moonlight...
She is making her dreams come true...
Enjoy...N'Deye Mélissa

Book of the week: Le Héros de Kavomo by d’Agnès Barasokoroza

This is a very personal testimony by d’Agnès Barayiyaka born  Barasokoroza about the 1972 mass killing in Burundi. She is a family relative. I am really proud of her book.  Her testimony is peaceful and forgiving. I deeply appreciate that someone testified about May-July 1972. That period does not define me but the consequences did shape who I am today. In 1972, my grandfather was unjustly killed and my grandmother left alive! Ironically, due to the very selective character of the killing it is not labeled as genocide or holocaust!!The labeling does not matter, however a testimony of that period is a beautiful closure. Thank you Agnès Barasokoroza  for Le Héros de Kavomo. You did inspire me to write a book about my family!!!

Short description:
The testimony of Agnes Barayiyaka, born Barasokoroza is a striking illustration of the disastrous and disturbing clashes in Burundi in 1972 and their devastating consequences. Based on her experience and her father's experience (a man of great conviction and righteousness), Agnes Barayiyaka describes situations whose origins are found in Africa, certainly, but also in ideologies and colonial practices of the Europe.

She talks about  the disconcerting aspects, unjust, cruel and deeply inhumane.There is evidence in her great sensitivity,sadness, pain and melancholy. But at the same time, no page is marked by a spirit of revenge or despair.Quite the contrary, we can feel  across a genuine hope for a better future as long as the Burundian find and restore the values ​​of their traditional culture, many of which converge with those of the Gospel.

Le témoignage d’Agnès Barayiyaka, née Barasokoroza est une illustration saisissante et troublante des funestes affrontements au Burundi en 1972 et de leurs conséquences ravageuses. A partir de son expérience et de celle de son père (un homme de conviction et de grande droiture), Agnès Barayiyaka décrit des situations dont les origines sont à chercher en Afrique, certes, mais aussi dans les idéologies et les pratiques coloniales de l’Europe.

Elle en indique les aspects déconcertants, injustes, cruels, profondément inhumains.

Il y a dans ce témoignage beaucoup de sensibilité, de tristesse, de souffrance et de lassitude. Mais, en même temps, aucune page ne porte la marque d’un esprit de vengeance ou de désespoir. Bien au contraire, on sent poindre d’un bout à l’autre une espérance authentique dans un avenir meilleur pour peu que les Barundi retrouvent et restaurent les valeurs de leur culture traditionnelle dont beaucoup convergent avec celles de l’Évangile.

To buy go on  UniBook.com 

 

La miseria del hombre by Gonzalo Rojas

Gonzalo Rojas was a Chilean poet.May he rest in peace!
Here his poem...just beautiful!!
Just in Spanish if I find good translations I will post them!!!
Enjoy...


La miseria del hombre

El sol y la muerte

La eternidad

La poesía es mi lengua

El caos

La libertad

Retrato de la niebla

Himno a la noche

La cordillera está viva

La materia es mi madre

Salmo real

Coro de los ahorcados

El principio y el fin

Naturaleza del fastidio

El abismo llama al abismo

Rotación y traslación

El condenado

La fosa común

El sol es la única semilla           

Descenso a los infiernos

Revelación del pensamiento

El fuego eterno

La nube

Crecimiento de Rodrigo Tomás

El poeta maldice a su cadáver

Perdí mi juventud

A quien vela, todo se le revela

La salvación

Carta del suicida

La vuelta al mundo

Pompas fúnebres

A una perdida

El polvo del deseo

Elegía

El dinero

Los cobardes

La sangre

           

La lepra

Fábula moderna

Drama pasional

Las mujeres vacías

Fundación de Valparaíso
 by Gonzalo Rojas

Source: Universidad de Chile

Feu de brousse-Brush Fire by Tchicaya U Tam’si

I would like to share a poem of Tchicaya U Tam’Si from the Mc Graw Hill Book of poetry. I purchased this for one dollar when I was in college at a library sale. I needed something  relaxing. As a biology major, philosophy and poetry were my favorite escapes to scientific stuff. Tchicaya U Tam'si is a Congolese poet. I did like it, so I did google for some more. He is a famous poet but his work seems underground.  According to critics, his style was disturbing the negritude movement. So his work remained underground or unknown. His style is described as anecdotal and dry. It is a style, I like because it is a style I grew up around with my parents.  A certain distance is maintain to be able to have an open heart conversation. It is peculiar and very African to me. However, he is also called the Black Rimbaud. 

Enjoy...

"Brush-fire" by  Tchicaya U Tam'si

The fire the river that's to say

the sea to drink following the sand

the feet the hands

within the heart to love

this river that lives in me repeoples me

only to you I said around the fire

my race

it flows here and there a river

the flames are the looks

of those who brood upon it

I said to you

my race

remembers

the taste of bronze drunk hot

 Feu de Brouse de Tchicaya U Tam’si  

Le long du fleuve Seule une montagne

Après la dernière étoile éteinte   Veille

Peine perdue 

Il y a le saut à la mer

A sac la mer

J’ai fait ce rêve  Avec l’arc-en-ciel

Dans l’autre sens du fleuve Couché

C’était le cercle magique

Des veillées lentes 

Les morts avec nous

Mais non  Avant la mer

Monte l’écume A la gorge

Du fleuve   Ecoutez le tocsin

Congo

Son milieu était une herbe juste

Parmi les ronces

Son ciel était son regard

Pour ceux qui vivaient

Ils vivaient nombreux

Les lianes liant leurs cœurs

Puis une chanson s’est levée

Rehaussons la haine

A sa hauteur de sentiment humain

Brûlez vos réserves de sèves sanguines

La plante mûrit ainsi la fleur

Vivre parmi les ronces c’est mourir

Nulle part la joie

C’est le choc des crépuscules

Ils vivaient nombreux

Son milieu était une herbe juste

Mais où a-t-on égaré mes pagayeurs

From A la pointe noire du temps

L'Albatros-The albatross- El albatros by Charles Baudelaire

This is a poem, I did learn in elementary school. This sad poem about a bullied albatros, put in words how I felt as a foreigner in a new country.Well, I was a talented  mini-griot so I have never been bullied!Baudelaire symbolism captivated me. My teacher used the term of artistic exile. It was exactly how I felt. I was in exile and my qualities became disabilities in a new land. What was graceful  to me, was ridiculed by my classmates.  However, Baudelaire and his pitiful albatross gave me hope. If he felt awkward and disabled in his own country. It meant that I would be fine!!

 Thanks to all the awesome teachers that introduced me to poetry !!!
Enjoy ...

L'ALBATROS from Les Fleurs du Mal

Souvent, pour s'amuser, les hommes d'équipage
Prennent des albatros, vastes oiseaux des mers,
Qui suivent, indolents compagnons de voyage,
Le navire glissant sur les gouffres amers.

A peine les ont-ils déposés sur les planches,
Que ces rois de l'azur, maladroits et honteux,
Laissent piteusement leurs grandes ailes blanches
Comme des avirons traîer à côté d'eux.

Ce voyageur ailé, comme il est gauche et veule!
Lui, naguère si beau, qu'il est comique et laid!
L'un agace son bec avec un brûle-gueule,
L'autre mime, en boitant, l'infirme qui volait!

Le Poëte est semblable au prince des nuées
Qui hante la tempête et se rit de l'archer;
Exilé sur le sol au milieu des huées,
Ses ailes de géant l'empêchent de marcher.

THE ALBATROSS from The Flowers of Evil

Often, for pastime, mariners will ensnare
The albatross, that vast sea-bird who sweeps
On high companionable pinion where
Their vessel glides upon the bitter deeps.

Torn from his native space, this captive king
Flounders upon the deck in stricken pride,
And pitiably lets his great white wing
Drag like a heavy paddle at his side.

This rider of winds, how awkward he is, and weak!
How droll he seems, who lately was all grace!
A sailor pokes a pipestem into his beak;
Another, hobbling, mocks his trammeled pace.

The Poet is like this monarch of the clouds,
Familiar of storms, of stars, and of all high things;
Exiled on earth amidst its hooting crowds,
He cannot walk, borne down by his giant wings.

                                       — translated by Richard Wilbur

  From here 

El albatros

Por distraerse, a veces, suelen los marineros
Dar caza a los albatros, grandes aves del mar,
Que siguen, indolentes compañeros de viaje,
Al navío surcando los amargos abismos.

Apenas los arrojan sobre las tablas húmedas,
Estos reyes celestes, torpes y avergonzados,
Dejan penosamente arrastrando las alas,
Sus grandes alas blancas semejantes a remos.

Este alado viajero, ¡qué inútil y qué débil!
Él, otrora tan bello, ¡qué feo y qué grotesco!
¡Éste quema su pico, sádico, con la pipa,
Aquél, mima cojeando al planeador inválido!

El Poeta es igual a este señor del nublo,
Que habita la tormenta y ríe del ballestero.
Exiliado en la tierra, sufriendo el griterío,
Sus alas de gigante le impiden caminar.

From here 

Nuit de Siné-Night of Sine-Noche de Siné by Léopold Sédar Senghor

As a kid, the only African poet I knew about was my father. He was writing beautiful short poems in French. I was always impressed by the intensity of his voice when he was reading them to me. In the other hand, my mother was a poetess but her poetry was exclusively oral. She would use Kirundi or French to teach us, values and morals through proverbs.
In middle school, my mother purchased a large collection of encyclopedia, so I finally learn more about African poetry. I did learn about Léopold Sédar Senghor. It was my first introduction to published African poetry. I always associate his poem “Night of Sine” as an ode to the African Negress. I like the imageries and metaphors, however he was too conservative. Yes, I said it! For the revolutionary teenager, I was, his poetry was limiting the Negress in me. I always joked that the negritude movement forgot about the Negresses. Of course, the African poetry did sublimated black women and their roles.  Nevertheless, traditions and cultures create a certain stratification on which women roles were/are some what restricted. Well Senghor is Senghor.  Respect! Here is “Night of Sine”

 

Night of Sine

Woman, put on my forehead your balsam hands, 
your hands softer than fur.Up there, the tall palm trees swinging
in the night breeze rustle hardly.

Not even the nurse’s song. Let the rhythmic silence rock us.

Let’s listen to its song, 
let’s listen to the beating of our dark blood, let’s listen

To the beating-of the dark pulse of Africa in the mist of lost villages.

Look how the tired moon sinks towards its bed of slack water,

Look how the burst of laughter doze off, 
and even the bards themselves

Dandle their heads like children on the backs of their mother.

Look how the feet of the dancers grow heavy, 
as well as the tongue of the alternating chorus.

This is the hour of the stars and of the Night that dreams

Reclining on that range of clouds, draped in its long gown of milk.

The roofs of the huts gleam gently. 
What are they so confidently telling to the stars?

Inside, the hearth extinguishes in the intimacy of bitter and sweet scents.

Woman, light the lamp of butterclear oil, 
let the Ancesters,like their parents, talk the children in bed.

Let’s listen to the voice of the Ancients of Elissa. Exiled as we are

They did not want to die, their seminal flood is lost in the sand.

Let me hear, in the smoky which I visit, 
a reflection of propitious souls

Let my head on your breast,
warm as a dang taken from the fire and smoking

Let me inhale the smell of our Dead, 
let me collect and repeat their living voice, let me learn

To live before I sink, deeper than the diver, into the lofty depth of sleep.

Léopold Sédar Senghor

Tr. Germain Droogenbroodt

From: Chants d’ombre (1945) , © Editions du Seuil, Paris

Nuit de Siné  
Femme, pose sur mon front tes mains balsamiques, 
tes mains douces plus que fourrure.
Là-haut les palmes balancées 
qui bruissent dans la haute brise nocturne
À peine. Pas même la chanson de nourrice. 
Qu'il nous berce, le silence rythmé.
Écoutons son chant, écoutons battre notre sang sombre,
écoutons Battre le pouls profond de l'Afrique 
dans la brume des villages perdus.

Voici que décline la lune lasse vers son lit de mer étale
Voici que s'assoupissent les éclats de rire,
que les conteurs eux-mêmes  

Dodelinent de la tête comme l'enfant sur le dos de sa mère
Voici que les pieds des danseurs s'alourdissent, 
que s'alourdit la langue des choeurs alternés.

C'est l'heure des étoiles et de la Nuit qui songe
S'accoude à cette colline de nuages, 
drapée dans son long pagne de lait.
Les toits des cases luisent tendrement. 
Que disent-ils, si confidentiels, aux étoiles ?
Dedans, le foyer s'éteint 
dans l'intimité d'odeurs âcres et douces.

Femme, allume la lampe au beurre clair, 

que causent autour les Ancêtres comme les parents,
les enfants au lit.
Écoutons la voix des Anciens d'Elissa. 
Comme nous exilés Ils n'ont pas voulu mourir, 
que se perdît par les sables leur torrent séminal.
Que j'écoute, dans la case enfumée 
que visite un reflet d'âmes propices
Ma tête sur ton sein chaud comme un dang 
au sortir du feu et fumant
Que je respire l'odeur de nos Morts, 
que je recueille et redise leur voix vivante, 
que j'apprenne à Vivre avant de descendre, 
au-delà du plongeur,
dans les hautes profondeurs du sommeil.

Léopold Sédar Senghor

De: Chants d’ombre (1945) , © Editions du Seuil, Paris

Noche de Siné (1)

Mujer, pon sobre mi frente tus manos balsámicas,
tus manos más suaves que armiñoAllá arriba
las palmas balanceadas 
que susurran en la alta brisa nocturna
Apenas. Ni la canción de nodriza. 
Que nos mezca el silencio ritmado.
Escuchemos su canto, escuchemos latir nuestra sangre oscura, 
escuchemos  Latir el pulso profundo de África 
en la bruma de los pueblos perdidos.

Mira como declina la luna cansada 
sobre su lecho de marea muerta.
Mira como se adormecen las carcajadas,
que los propios cuentacuentos
Cabecean como el niño en la espalda de su madre
Mira como se aploman los pies de los danzantes, 

como se aploma la lengua de los coros que se alternan.

Es la hora de las estrellas y de la Noche que sueña
Acodándose en esta colina de nubes, 
envuelta en su largo taparrabo.
Los tejados de las chozas lucen tiernamente. 

¿Qué les dicen, confiden­cialmente, a las estrellas?
Adentro, fuego se extingue
en la intimidad de olores acres y suaves.

Mujer, enciende la lámpara de mantequilla clara,
para que las Ancestros
charlen a su alrededor como los padres, los niños a la cama.
Escuchemos la voz de los Patriarcas de Elissa (2).
Exiliados como nosotros No han querido morir, que se ha perdido \
por las arenas su torrente seminal.
Que escuche, en la choza ahumada
que visita un reflejo de almas propicias
Mi cabeza en tu cálido sena como un dang{3) 
saliendo humeante del fuego
Que respire el olor de nuestros Muertos,
que recoja y repita su voz viviente,
que aprenda a Vivir antas de descender,
más allá del buceador, en las altas profundidades del sueño.

Léopold Sédar Senghor

From  http://www.point-editions.com/poets/sedar.html

Nuit d’Août-August Night by Alfred de Musset

April is National poetry month!!! I will share few of my favorite poems.Today, it will be about Alfred de Musset. He has a particular elegance in his prose, a sensibility that glorifies his conflicted personality.  His capricious and passionate approach to love is tormenting.  It is like; he does everything we should not do just for us to know that: On ne badine pas avec l'amour /Don't Trifle with Love!!

In my opinion, his message is that libertine pleasures offer illusion of happiness but indulging in earthly pleasure of living might equate with a loveless life.  I like the dramatic romance between Musset and his mistress George Sand. It is intense, sad and real.   

I think that  you must love yourself, to love someone else because the bliss of love is full of struggle, tribulations and torments! To conclude here a quote from George Sand aka Amandine Lucile Aurore Dupin: “One is happy as a result of one's own efforts once one knows the necessary ingredients of happiness simple tastes, a certain degree of courage, self denial to a point, love of work, and above all, a clear conscience.”

 Enjoy...

August Night

O Muse! What does it matter, life or death?

I love, and want pallor, I love and want the pain;

I love, my genius for a kiss I won’t disdain;

I love, and want to feel on my cheek wan

That stream from endless spring forever drawn.

I love, and want to sing of joy and laziness

Of my crazed life and cares of just one day.

I want to tell and say forever and ceaseless

That once vowing to live without mistress,

Only of love I vow to live and die.

Renounce to all your pride that’s killing you

The bitter-filled heart that you thought was closed.

Love and revive; to blossom be a flower.

Having suffered, even more you must suffer,

And keep loving, after having so loved.

Translated by Thomas D. Le

19 November 2004

Nuit d’Août -Alfred de Musset (1810-1857)

O Muse! que m’importe ou la mort ou la vie ?

J’aime, et je veux pâlir; j’aime et je veux souffrir ;

J’aime, et pour un baiser je donne mon génie ;

J’aime, et je veux sentir sur ma joue amaigrie

Ruisseler une source impossible à tarir.

J’aime, et je veux chanter la joie et la paresse,

Ma folle experience et mes soucis d’un jour,

Et je veux raconter et répéter sans cesse

Qu’après avoir juré de vivre sans maîtresse,

J’ai fait serment de vivre et de mourir d’amour.

Dépouille devant tous l’orgueil qui te dévore,

Coeur gonflé d’amertume et qui t’es cru fermé.

Aime, et tu renaîtras; fais-toi fleur pour éclore.

Après avoir souffert, il faut souffrir encore ;

Il faut aimer sans cesse, après avoir aimé.

From French Poetry by Thomas D.Le