Carpanin Marimoutou

Carpanin Marimoutou (b.1956) is a poet and academic in French and Creole literature, living and working in Reunion Island. Author of nine collections of poetry and numerous works of criticism, he is a celebrated and influential figure in the francophone world. Some of his poems, such as “Bato fou”, have been put to music by the group Ziskakan. The poems presented here reflect his widely influential deconstruction of colonial attitudes, as well as his resolutely politicised commitment to creole culture and history.

Untitled

I carry within me the wounded pride of the glowing irons

I carry within me the broken heat of twisted bodies

I carry within me the drowned image of the white-washed senses

I carry within me the defeated being

the defiled waves

the bruising of the migrants

the death-song of the rebels and the

final authority of the wounds

from Arracher cinquante mille signes (1980)

Translated by Kit Kumiko Toda

Promise to the Island

I will read you dreams of fire

I will burn the tears of hope

on the trembling veil of your eyes

and I will await the hour of death

I will face the waters of anguish

Bent-backed to the drowning suns

I will smoke the amber stars

and I will await the hour of death

I will lick the feet of the shadows

slide along the rails of lightning

the lost wave of eyes charred black

and I will await the hour of death

so, sweeping up the arrows of your feet

sent back to the blue clouds of my solitude

Pouring pure gold from my hands with each cry

I will die

and the moon will ring

green sand to my first memory

from Arracher cinquante mille signes (1980)

Translated by Kit Kumiko Toda

Untitled (section 40)

You said we shouldn't name this country. That we should keep it an island.

Far away from all, far away from all things and from the howling of the world. From the world's innovations.

From the world's expansion. From the world's creations. From the world's vision.

Never let it take part in the world's tuning and clashing concert.

From colony to summer camp!

You've always dreamed of peaceful, republican colonies.

Here. And here is a country.

Here. You don't care about humans, nor their dreams, nor their lives, nor their nyabou.[1]

Especially not their nyabou.

Here. All you care about are the trees, the flowers, the volcano, this perpetual celebration, the mountains, the

rivers, the fruits, the waterfalls, the cloudless sky, the sea, the eternal summer.

As if no one had planted them, dug them, cultivated them, inhabited them.

As if no one plants them, digs them, cultivates them, inhabits them.

Here. Your playground. Your control tower. Your activity leaders, your cops and your army. Your spendthrift

overlords.

And you say that I ramble, I reminisce and I rehash.

But I'm not afraid to ramble, to reminisce and to rehash.

So I rehash.

And such.

Surfing, sailing, paragliding, rallies, hikes, Grand Raids, beauty queens, top athletes,

musicians, colors.[2]

Secluded, unspoilt spots, tan lontan, case creoles, flower and spice gardens. And the exquisite elegance of

the colonial estates.[3]

The infinite gentleness of the poor in their small but oh-so-pretty kazatèr.[4]

Grand parting celebrations. Each in his own corner. And let each of them show you their fruits, their flowers,

their plants, their celebrations.

Otherwise, we would just be robbers, ruthless, rapists, incestuous, jealous, obese, easy... but so kind even so.

So helpful.

So satisfied with destiny.

So I ramble, I repeat and I rehash.

And such.

from Shemin maniok, Shemin galé (2009)

Translated by Aurélia Rakotoaritsima

[1]  nyabou, niabou – the knowledge, know-how and skills to make something.
[2] The Grand Raid is an ultramarathon trail race held annually on Reunion Island. Known as a challenging competition due to the rugged terrain, extreme elevation changes, and unpredictable weather conditions.
[3] tan lontan – the old times. 
case creoles – traditional creole house, characterized by their distinctive architectural style, colorful facades and wide verandas.
[4] kazatèr— refers to a type of wooden shack commonly found in Reunion Island’s rural areas.