Nou pale Kréyol

son nwa tankou gout lapli

tonbe nan forè an.

Nou kriye an Kréyol

gwo dèy sou yon sèkèy byen fon

chapo nwa ak vwal lonbraj

Je wouj.

Nou souri an Kréyol

yon ti gason niche sos mango a nan dwèt li.

Kréyol

bonè nan solèy la leve

dèyè mòn yo.

***

Kréyol

We speak Kryéol

somber sounds like rain drops

falling in the forest.

We cry in Kréyol

the deep mourning over a coffin

black hat with veil shading red eyes.

We smile in Kréyol

a boy licking mango juice off his fingers.

Kréyol

bliss of the sun setting

behind high mountains.

Written and translated by Jerrice J. Baptiste