Sonje kiyès ou ye:

Background: Today, May 18th, is Haitian Flag Day: a day that is celebrated by Haitians all over the world both privately and publicly. Our flag is a symbol of our fight for freedom against French colonialism. In 1804, Haiti became the first Black led republic in the world. In other words, we were the first country to successfully revolt against our colonizers. Our Blue and Red flag with a white center, broadcasting a coat of arms with the words “L’Union Fait la Force” or “Unity Creates Strength,” reminds us of that legacy. This flag is a rendition of the French flag yet without the white section which represented an end to the colonial presence in the country. The Blue and Red represent the newly formed Black and Mixed-Race, or Mulatto, Haitian population, respectively. Since its independence, Haiti has suffered through countless corrupt politicians and destabilizing environmental disasters. The image of Haiti that circulates in western media is one of poverty, turmoil and deprivation. Despite its political, economical and environmental difficulties, Haiti is so much more than what it has been reduced to in the public eye. The Haitian people are resilient, passionate and courageous. This was the inspiration for this poem written in Haitian-Creole (and translated below) entitled, “Sonje kiyès ou ye” or “Remember Who You Are.” In remembrance of our revolutionary past and bright future, we celebrate Haitian Flag Day. Us Haitians are braver than we think and stronger than we know.

Menm lè’l difisil

Menm lè wap goumen pou lapè’ou

Sonje kiyès ou ye

Sonje kote'ou soti

Sonje que bon famn sot nan ras

Sonje que pitit, moun yo te libérer peyi’ou

San ede

San permission

Ou konnen qui sa vle di

De libérer peyi-ou?

De vini ansamn pour di yo nou pap rete en bas?

Plus que sa, pour ede l’autre peyi yo jwenn independance yo?

Yo vle rele nou bête

Yo vle dit que c’est nou même qui est souvaj

Plis sovaj plis malad que moun qui te fait nous escalves

Kite tout betiza sa et pa bliyé

Sonje kiyès nou ye

Sonje kote'ou soti

Sonje créole la- lang nous

Un lange nou te fet pour nou meme par nous meme pou libérer

Nou konnen doulè de lavi

L’ap fè n’importe ça’l vle pou kite nous en bas

Lè konsa kenbe Dessalines et anset nou nan coeur’ou

Mezanmi koupe tèt et boule kay

Nou gen pouvwa

Nou gen l’esprit

Nou gen eritaj nou men plis que sa, nou gen lavni ou

Sonje

English Translation:

Even when it is difficult

Even when you are fighting for your peace

Remember who you are

Remember where you come from

Remember that goodness is within our people

Remember, my child, that our people liberated our country

Without help

Without permission

Do you know what that entails?

To liberate one’s country?

To come together and tell them that we refuse to be inferior?

More than that, to aid other countries in freeing themselves as well?

They want to call us animals

They want to say that it is us who are the savages

More savage-like than those who rendered us slaves

Ignore that bullshit and do not forget

Remember who we are

Remember where we come from

Remember our native language, Haitian-Creole

A language that we made for and by ourselves for liberation

We know the hardships of life

It will often do whatever it can to keep us down

In moments like this, keep Dessalines and our ancestors in your heart

Oh dear, “koupe tèt, boule kay”

We are powerful

We have spirit

We have our heritage but beyond that, we have our future

Remember