Ann Pale is a force to be reckoned with and recognized!

[Makendal]

Unfortunately,

I was not able to ...wait a minute...did I say hello to everyone?

Onè! Respè!
Bonswa tout moun alawonnbadè!

OK...as I was saying...I was not able to attend at Mapou's due to so many engagements, meetings and other things previously on my schedule but i did get to meet many members at Miramar for the cultural networking event. All I can say is...

Ann Pale and WOH is a force to be reckoned with and recognized.

I look forward to the next event and will DEFINITELY clear my calendar in advance!

[guysanto*]

Thanks, Makendal! By the way, did you notice which two selections of The Maroons CD I used on Ann Pale? I really enjoyed them and if you could say anything more about them, I would be quite appreciative of that.

I would not use "Sex" though (or is it "Sax"?) Don't quite know...it seems to be used interchangeably in that piece... which brings me to a young lady in Ann Pale, who was made the object of that particular piece of Spoken Poetry. Supposedly, she is very shy, but one would not have guessed that night, given the very particular attention she was subjected to, in front of everyone. I don't know, man. I kind of blushed for her, because the words were truly (...)

What can I say, my ears are chaste. Si Leonel te la, li ta rantre nan won.

Anyway, that young lady sent me lots of pictures of the Ann Pale Reunion in Florida this past week. I am waiting for some more from Serge Bellegarde and Frantz Jean, then I'll put them all in an album for viewing. I would have started doing that already if I had found the time. Perhaps, Sunday.

In addition, Jean Mapou has, I understand, both the video of the Mapou cultural presentation for Wndows on Haiti, and the radio interview we gave on Sunday morning, featuring our service activities and Kiki Wainwright's vivid poetry. If that is true, we all are in for a treat! Wainwright's rendition of his own "Mardi-Gras" was truly exceptional. I can't wait to digitize the sound and offer it to Ann Pale members who were not lucky enough to be present.

So, for those who would like to see pictures, audio, and perhaps even some video clips, I beg your patience. It's coming...

[Makendal]

Guy,

Mesi anpil wi...mwen swete ke soley la ap briye sou do kay ou jodiya epi chak jou se anpil kè kontan.

The CD is very metaphoric. It is also akin to a magician's hands, making you think/disappear your thoughts one way, and then have them reappear in a place you were not even thinking of.

For example, the piece you mentioned, "Sex", is about a biblical and spiritual love, and the poet/performer, although seemingly alluding to something perhaps sinful, specifically states that it is something reserved through love and matrimony. This piece also speaks of the rise of AIDS within our society through sex and that sex itself, although beckoning to all, will not be able to beckon and hypnotize the poet, "will not let you get the best of me" as he put it.

I loved your review of the CD of course...very much on point and I am happy that you enjoyed it.

The Truth...another track on the CD is a group piece performed by all of the Maroons. This track is an "in your face" wake up call to the lies and misconceptions, to the atrocities and to the hidden truths. When you hear me say in this track..."Levis Jeans and Disney, you better stop the misery in Ayiti", this should make the listener wonder and question why I would mention Levis Jeans or Disney. I will not reveal for greater is knowledge when sought out on one's own. My favorite part of this track is "I think American politicans should apply for a green card, just to have permission to walk through my backyard! 62nd Little Haiti". Here we are alluding to the fact that there are so many immigration laws that we must deal with when attempting to enter this country, perhaps it is only fair that we impose the same on our culture and our country, especially Little Haiti.

I don't want to give too much about all of the tracks and poems, but I can tell you that if you listen closely...the points made are much, much deeper.

Nan komunote Ayisyen'a, there are those who shun what we do because of the multi-lingual approach we have taken (although since our inception and acceptance by audiences many have now veered toward multilingual performances). Our job is to break new ground and our prize that we as a group keep our eyes on is the Haitian children of South Florida and Haiti. Through school supplies drives and donations from as far as Canada, France and California...we have been amassing supplies for La Flor Academy in Arcahaie, Fondation Emile St. Louis in Port-au-Prince and La Creche in the heart of Belair. We do literacy and after-programs with Haitian youth in S. Florida in attempt to draw them closer to language, literacy, reading, writing and, of course, POETRY. We don't profit...but we do in a sense because what we give is for the profit of the community and our own spirit.

Antoulèka, mwen pa vle kenbe post-sa twop ak koze Mawon-yo...but i will try and send you pictures of our last event with Reginald Policard (Jazz and Poetry) as well as an upcoming event which we will be performing at: The Commemoration of Jacques Stephen Alexis, on March 31st. His daughter, Florence, will be there and there will be a discussion regarding the translation of his book, "In The Flicker of An Eyelid". The Maroons will be performing his work as well as our own dedicated to his life, his literature and his thoughts. Se bagay sa yo ki sipoze ap depoze nan fouk sèvèl jenn yo paske yo pa jwenn bagay sa yo nan lekol yo ni lakay yo, so they grow up learning about Geroge Washington, Lincoln, Mark Twain, Shakespeare, State of Liberty, Freud, etc...epi anyen de peyi yo.

Enfin...travay la du...men nou te met lèd...n'ap toujou la.

Peace.

Makendal
"I am Haitian not only because I was born in Haiti, but because Haiti was born in me."

[Carline]

The Truth...another track on the CD is a group piece performed by all of the Maroons. This track is an "in your face" wake up call to the lies and misconceptions, to the atrocities and to the hidden truths. When you hear me say in this track..."Levis Jeans and Disney, you better stop the misery in Ayiti", this should make the listener wonder and question why I would mention Levis Jeans or Disney. I will not reveal for greater is knowledge when sought out on one's own. My favorite part of this track is "I think American politicans should apply for a green card, just to have permission to walk through my backyard! 62nd Little Haiti". Here we are alluding to the fact that there are so many immigration laws that we must deal with when attempting to enter this country, perhaps it is only fair that we impose the same on our culture and our country, especially Little Haiti.

The Truth is definitely one of my (and it seems the crowd too) favorite Maroon piece. I don't think that I can grow tired of it no matter how many times I see you guys perform it or listen to Underscore's CD. It really brings home so many of the same sentiments I share towards the inequality our brothers and sisters deal with.