My father used to say Archive
Bal fini, vyélon an sak.
Direct Translation The gala is over, the violin is in its bag (case). In other words, it’s a done deal. Something pleasurable has ended and something extremely bad may be coming. Application Elections are in the air. Joe Blow is running for prime minister. Joe has been known to be a very ruthless man who
Sa ki an fal ou ja sa ou.
Direct Translation What is in your stomach is already yours. In other words, you should not pass up on what you have seen for what you have not seen. Application It was midday Sunday and mama was serving that Sunday lunch. Michael, my older brother who would have been going to a party that afternoon
Lè bab kanmawad ou pwi difé wouzé sa ou.
Direct Translation When your friend’s beard catches on fire, water yours. In other words, if a friend of yours is hit by some misfortune you should take heed and be prepared in the event that this same misfortune comes your way. Application Jack and Gary were two stevedores who worked weekly on the Geest
Wòch ki an dlo ka mandé atè; wòch ki atè ka mandé an glo.
Direct Translation Stones that are in the water are asking to come on shore; Stones that are on the shore are asking to go into the water. Some of us never know what we want and so we are willing to trade places thinking that things are better on the other side. Application Mary, who
Hayi chyen mé di dan’y blan.
Direct translation ‘Hate a dog but admit its teeth are white’. In other words you may not like someone but you should admit if this person is good at something. Application Growing up, there was a major bad apple in the clan. He was what you would refer to as a ‘jumbie’, a drug addict.
Tan fè tan. Tan kité tan.
Direct Translation Time creates time, time leaves time. Essentially, things change over time. Application It feels like only yesterday my son passed for Saint Mary’s College. I picked him up and paraded him through the town. I was such a proud father. It’s almost 25 years since he has graduated from college and now married with kids.
“Chak nonm, chak katjil.”
Direct Translation “Each man, each thought.” My father explained that this phrase originated from Soufriere over 2 decades ago. The story goes that a man in his polished English stated “Each nonm, each katjil” implying that men all think differently. His audience understood what he was trying to say but laughed at him given that
Bèf douvan bwè dlo nèt.
The direct translation ‘The cow to the front drinks clean water.’ If one takes cows to the river, the cow to the front will get the cleanest water given that the other cows would not have muddied the river as yet. In the situation where the cows are given water out of a container or
