Saturday, August 26, 2017

The Sunday Poet: Jean-Dany Joachim


Poet  Jean-Dany Joachim



 Jean-Dany Joachim grew up among poets in his native Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Jean-Dany wrote his first poem at age 14. His writing found its voice in the never-ending, complex reality of his country. After moving to the United States, he began writing in English, while at the same time exploring poetry in other languages. Jean-Dany has translated poetry from and into: Spanish, French, Haitian Creole, and English.He currently works and teaches at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston.


Poetry Matters

Even in times like this
Poetry still matters
Even in times like this 
The sun still rises,
And its light shines
Equally on all of us

Even in times like this
Regardless the length
In the distance we put between us
Whether it's the far-right
Or the far-left that we choose
Poetry still matters

Birds continue singing as always
As if unaware of our resentments
Fish and other ocean creatures
Nonetheless, keep on swimming,
And nature quietly continues its course
Even in times like this

Poetry still matters
Though from Kabul to London
From Paris to Charlottesville,
And Barcelona we have open wounds

Poets certainly must speak
Specially in times like this
Along their truth-telling words
God's ways are revealed

Jean Dany

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