Haitian poet Bertony Louis confronts climate crisis through ocean-inspired poetry during Harvard residency | Q&A

In late September, Haitian poet Bertony Louis took the stage before renowned scholar Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr., director of Harvard’s Hutchins Center, and an audience of his peers to share his bold exploration of humanity’s future through the lens of the ocean. As Harvard’s poet-in-residence, Louis delved into his unique long-form poetic project, “And the Ocean for Ink,” unveiling the deep connection between the sea and our collective fate.

Before taking his poetry journey to Cambridge to become a Hutchins Center fellow, Bertony sojourned as a poet-in-residence and Artist Protection Fund Fellow at the University of Glasgow. Throughout his career, he has also received many international accolades, including the First Prize of Société des Gens de Lettres in 2020. 

“Haiti’s struggles and the ocean’s vastness both shape my poetry. Through these verses, I aim to reflect the urgent need for change.”

Bertony Louis

Websder Corneille of The Haitian Times sat down with Louis to discuss the intersections of his poetry, the current landscape in Haiti and inevitably, the fate of humanity.

---

Websder Corneille is an Adjunct Lecturer of Haitian Creole Language and Haitian Studies at Indiana University and Founder and Executive Director of the Haitian Creole Program. His report on child trafficking in Haiti won the 2020 Philippe Chaffanjon International Award.

CORNEILLE/The Haitian Times: 

You are a poet-in-residence at the prestigious Harvard’s Hutchins Center for African & African American Research to work on the project ‘And the Ocean for Ink’, which focuses on the negative effects of human activity on the planet. How do you approach the relations between the poetic, the natural world and ecology? 

LOUIS: My project “And the Ocean for Ink” is a long poem [poème-fleuve] that examines the intimate connection between humanity’s future and the ocean and their place in human life. The poem examines the urgency of the degradation of marine biodiversity and ecosystem and how a healthy ocean is a fundamental prerequisite for human well-being

A review of my poetry will demonstrate that nature is an integral element of my work. It is nearly impossible for me to construct a verse of five or more words without incorporating a word or phrase that evokes the natural world. Nature plays an indispensable role in the creative process, and I view it as a means of honoring the commitment I make to beauty with each poem I write. Nature itself helps me to respond to the aesthetic concerns of poetic writing and plays a crucial role in my approach. I draw inspiration for each verse from contact with this world.

WC: Scientists have long documented Haiti’s vulnerability to climate change. Has Haiti’s weakness to extreme weather events guided the spirit of this project? 

BL: Climate change is a global issue that poses a significant risk to Haiti, particularly given our location in a tropical zone and the general lack of concern about this problem. As for the latter, it may be since we have other, more critical issues to address, such as insecurity. To some extent, Haiti’s specific circumstances have guided the spirit of this project. 

Firstly, there is a lack of awareness about the ocean and the environment in general. For instance, in the limited instances when environmental issues are addressed in Haiti, the emphasis is consistently on tree planting and protection. However, there is a notable absence of discourse on the significance of the oceans, which provide over 50% of the oxygen we breathe, a figure that far exceeds that provided by trees. Secondly, this project demonstrates that despite the lack of attention to some issues, there are still individuals raising awareness about these matters.

WC: Do you consider yourself as an ecopoet? If yes, how does ecopoetics differ from just nature poetry or how do they interact? 

BL: While my work, particularly this project, does advance ecological principles, I consider myself primarily a humanitarian poet. My poetry is therefore focused on the betterment of humanity. I am inspired by the words of Eugene Guillevic, who said, To make the poem a lever to change the world, is to be faithful to poetry. This phrase guides my approach as a poet. With each line I write, I feel a sense of obligation to use poetry as a tool for positive change and to demonstrate my commitment to the craft.

WC: Until October 2023, you were an Artist Protection Fund Writing Fellow at the School of Modern Languages and Cultures at the University of Glasgow in the UK, what was your main poetic takeaways of this experience? How does it reshape your vision or approach? 

BL: The 12 months I spent at the University of Glasgow during my Artist Protection Fund fellowship represented a significant milestone in my early career as a poet. It was my inaugural major residency; I had previously participated in two other residencies, one in Spain at the Fundacion Valparaiso and the other at Stiftung Künstlerdorf Schöppingen in Germany. However, my writing fellowship in the UK was more expansive, longer-term, and significant in comparison. This fellowship was instrumental in shaping my poetic thinking and approach. The environment was conducive to achieving the objectives set out in my writing plan and to making progress in other areas of my life. 

My participation in this fellowship program [at Glasgow] has led me to understand that a writing residency or fellowship is not solely about working on a literary project. Furthermore, it is about the experiences and encounters that have a significant impact on our perception of writing. Exploring new frontiers and experimenting with different cultures are key factors that enable artists to innovate and refine their craft.

WC: Being the first Haitian to receive this Fellowship for creative writing at Harvard University, how does that sound for a creator in a country [the U.S.] where culture is considered our best or sometimes our  only business card? 

BL: Despite the challenges the country is facing, culture remains a fundamental aspect of the nation’s identity. It is acknowledged that, currently, cultural activities in Haiti are experiencing a notable decline due to the prevailing insecurity in the country. However, Haitian culture remains resilient. Such opportunities are virtually non-existent in Haiti. Among the limited number of artistic creation programs in Haiti, the Festival Quatre Chemins program is a notable one. 

The scarcity of these programs can be attributed primarily to the lack of encouragement for artistic creation by cultural institutions. While there are a few competitions that reward literary works, such as the Prix Henry Deschamps, there is a dearth of programs offering artists creative residencies. Secondly, the government does not allocate funding to cultural organizations for such programs. 

The fact of being the first Haitian to be awarded such a creative fellowship at Harvard University represents an important achievement for Haitian literature, which is highly regarded abroad. It also sends a message that Haiti is a country that produces talented individuals who contribute to the global community. It is my hope that one day, Haitian writers will no longer have to seek opportunities abroad, as there will be enough opportunities within our own country.  

The post Haitian poet Bertony Louis confronts climate crisis through ocean-inspired poetry during Harvard residency | Q&A appeared first on The Haitian Times.

---

Haitian poet Bertony Louis confronts climate crisis through ocean-inspired poetry during Harvard residency | Q&A was first posted on October 17, 2024 at 8:19 am.