It is often said that every techie has a hidden creative side. Is there any truth to this? Computer Science graduate Giscard Nazon certainly leads one to believe there is some truthfulness in that saying. An information technology professional for most of his life, Nazon has emerged with My Modern Woman an epic poem he self-published in 2012. The book’s subtitle is “For Men and Women”, which is appropriate, considering that men and women are complements of one another.

Nazon’s poem is full of well-chosen words: “There is fondness for darkness/When wretched candle lights/Battle from land to land/To become the headlight.” Further he writes: “My modern woman/I am honored and humbled/To be the man of her trust/The director that she chose.”

What inspired you to write your poem?
It came as a surprise to me. When I started writing it, I realized that a spiritual language was unfolding through it and it stood out from any pattern that could be found in my previous writings. I believe it was brought about as my worldview started to change following steps I had taken two years prior to redirect my spiritual life. [This] led me to a greater appreciation and understanding of the Christian faith. I believe my impulse then was to express through a character—My Modern Woman—my new understanding of and ability to recognize and relate to Biblical Christianity.

When did you start writing?
I started writing at the age of 18, during my last year of high school in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. My first poems were in French. I published two books that year. First, Naufrage en Haute Terre [Shipwreck on High Earth], which was only one poem that I released as a “single”—making an analogy to the music world—then Première Distance [First Distance], which was a collection of poems and various thoughts. It included the former publication and was thus considered the “album.” Then over the years, I began to write poems in English too and experiment with different writing styles leaning on greater freedom. But I did not write steadily, and also more rarely did I write in French. That went on for thirteen years until it came to the writing of My Modern Woman. I like to help people use technology efficiently and as issues arise, to bring a solution. I have also been a musician for a long time. I have been learning how to play the violin since I was a child, and for some time until in recent years, I have been composing and producing my music. That somehow spilled into my writing a little bit as I found myself using musical concepts, usually to mark a transition or bring emphasis on or around a certain word or thought. I found that to be an original way to bring my two creative engines together. I am also a keen observer of society, leaders, current events and their influence on society, and I strive to be a light to others in any capacity given to me. I am an endurer for Christ whom I now know and who knows me.

Anything, or anyone in particular who inspired My Modern Woman?
Yes, the book has two aspects. First – and that is how it started, it is a portrait of a woman. The first few and last few pages of the book depict that person and a context in which I, the author, relate to her. It is a created character that may present traits that I have observed or understood that a Christian woman ought to exhibit. The second aspect of the book was birthed from the first and even became the core of it. It was my road map as I became a Christian. It contains the foundations that I had to lay to gain a worldview befitting my conversion. It is made of a series of current topics, many that I was considering for the first time, and my inspiration or rather my call to duty by God, was to establish and express a Biblical stance on such topics.

What do you think of modern poetry?
I am curious to better understand modern developments in poetry, including the return perhaps to more traditional styles of writing. That has not been my focus of study, but in regards to My Modern Woman, I have been interested to identify it with a given genre. The writing is not conventional, which can be considered a characteristic of modern poetry, but at the same time there is also something formal about it, which is meant to be established by the enduring reader. Hence, the observation I made that the reading of my book has been a delight to some and a stumbling block to others. It seems to be a subjective matter what we can define as modern poetry, especially if the more recent trends have been a return towards more conventional styles of writing. But given that I did not make a style decision as I started to write my book, and the writing rather imposed its form, I am happy if it is considered modern and equally happy otherwise.

What’s next for you?
Next for me is to keep on writing. In fact, I will release an e-book this year. It will be a work in prose this time. The material is chiefly Christian and also written as to personally engage the reader to answer questions, ask questions and have an involved attitude towards the truth—that is, all that is accepted as truth.

Visit Giscard Nazon’s website HERE and learn more about his book HERE.

The artist who goes by the name of MrJeffDess fits the template perfectly for what a spoken-word artist ought to be. Professorship—check. Some background in literature—Dess received a BA and and an MA in English Literature from St. John’s University—check. Handy with words—check. MrJeffDess is going to be the headline poet at Kreyol Corner, a collaboration between the poet and hip Brooklyn eatery La Caye Restaurant.

Dess has been experimenting with a plethora of literary genres since college. Thus far, the Queens-born son of Haitian parents has published four books of poetry. His multi-faceted platform has taken him to universities and institutions around the nation. In his role as the Assistant Director of Campus Life at New Jersey City University, he regularly implements poetry and literature in student activities and, in his own words, “keeps it funky”.

Kreyolicious: Who introduced you to poetry?

I was introduced to poetry through hip-hop. The first poem I ever wrote was a rap verse. It wasn’t until college that I began to study and write various other types of poetry.

Kreyolicious: “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost was first introduced to me in elementary school. As I grew older, it became more meaningful to me. Do you ever think of what your life would be like, had you not been on the path that you’re on currently—had you chosen another career route?

My career revolves around education, creativity and expression. I’ve worked as a college professor, a college administrator, a residence hall director, a public speaker, a rapper, a poet and somehow, some way I’ve found myself aligned with those key principles. I’m still not 100% certain about the path that I am on and where it will take me, but I am fully convinced that those ideals will dictate my travels.

Kreyolicious: Let’s talk about poetry versus text messages. Do you think that poetry is an art form that will go bye-bye? Text messages are abrupt, usually composed in a hurry, and under red lights, void a lot of times of the gentleness that we’ve come to expect of poetry, but compared to the 19th Century days when Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning would woo each other with long, fluid poems, this generation and generations to come are investing in text.

Kreyolicious: Each generation has their own ways of communicating and I don’t think poetry gets affected by that.

I think memes on social media is poetry. I think effective use of text emoticons is poetry. Tweets can be poetic. I am a writer of haiku poems and in their ancient nature; they’ve always been short and abrupt. The beauty of poetry is its fluidity. You never know what shape or form it comes in, but it will always be present.

Kreyolicious: How did the idea for the Kreyol Corner poetry series come about?

I used to live right down the block from La Caye Restaurant and became friendly with one of the owners. I had been working on some new projects and was looking for an opportunity to collaborate. We spoke and eventually we came together to create this idea. It’s been a great success and a lot of fun.

Kreyolicious: What have you learned from the other editions?

I’ve learned that are so many talented Haitian and Haitian American poets around the New York City area. At Kreyol Korner we have seen some first time poets hit the stage and getting to see that is always an invigorating experience.

Kreyolicious: When you’re standing on stage performing, you can see things people in the audience may not see. What do you usually see in terms of how people react to spoken word poetry? What seems to move them?

It varies with each audience. I prefer my words to impact more than my performance. At the end of the day understanding your audience is important. Knowing what will move, excite and teach your audience is important. I like to interact with my audience beforehand if possible to help gauge what will work best with them.

Kreyolicious: And going back to performance, let’s talk about pre-performance. How do you get ready to hit the stage?

I don’t do much preparation. I get this tingle in my fingers that happens literally every time I perform and that’s when I know it’s time for the show.

Kreyolicious: Dude, when was the last time you went to Haiti? This is a staple question around here, by the way. [Smiles]

I always surprise people with this answer and I’m not the proudest of it, but I have never been. I’ll be working on that though. I have plans to go in 2015.

Kreyolicious: And what does MrJeffDess have in store for those who are following his career, and those who’ve just discovered him?

My latest book Deconstructing Ratchet is currently available. I have two one-man shows coming up soon and I’m also working on a new book of comedic short stories about dating in the black community. I’m always working on projects and you can find out more about them by following my social media outlets and checking out my website.

Connect with MrJeffDess on Instagram| Mr. Jeff Dess on Tumblr | Connect with the artist on Twitter | See about him on Facebook |

Born in Haiti in the early 1970s, Andre Fouad is one of the most respected poets and spoken word artists in the Haitian community. A one-time accounting student, Fouad also dabbled with the fields of communications and journalism and was a frequent contributor to Le Nouvelliste.

Fouad’s most recent opus is the spoken-word/poetry disc Vwayaj [Voyage]. The poet says that the CD includes guest appearances by fellow poets Durna Thelisma, Jacques Adler Jean-Pierre, Edouard Baptiste and three singers Amy Generius, Mario Chandel, Morose, Yves Mardice.

Q & A

You grew up in Haiti. When you think of your years there, what is the first thing that comes to mind?
Yes, I grew up in Haiti. I spent my early childhood in Delmas with my grandmother Marie-Renée Henriette Duverne until I was ten years old. Then I went to live in Nazon, in Carrefour Feuilles, and then Petionville. There’s a beautiful thing that I remember of Haiti as a country—like the respect young children had for adults. I remember when I used to play soccer, play hide-and-go-seek with my little friends, roll hoops, flying paper kites on Good Friday. I miss Haiti so very much. Haiti remains in my heart. It remains in all my being.

When was the last time you went to Haiti?
I’m truly overjoyed when I’m in Haiti, because I’m at arm’s reach of my family. The last time I went to Haiti was at the beginning of 2013. I went to record my second disc—my second disc entitled Vwayaj—at the studio Centre Culturel Kreyolololo in Delmas that Chantal Drice and Pierre-Rigaud Chery operate.

How did you discover poetry?
I always had poetry in me, ever since I was little. I loved music and poetry. For one reason or another, it’s poetry that won out. It’s the medium I use to channel what hurts me, what makes me happy. Poetry is my all.

Do you think that text messages can be considered poetry?
A text message isn’t really poetry. It does have aspects of poetry, but it definitely isn’t poetry. A poem has a form, a structure to it, whether it’s written in prose or in verses. There’s a way to write it. There’s a way to do it.

Are there certain Haitian poets who, in your point of view, typify what a poet should be?
If I were to name them all, I would never stop talking. I can name Felix Morisseau Leroy, Frank Etienne, Lyonel Trouillot, Syto Cave, Dominique Batraville, Georges Castera, Jean-Euphèle Milce.

What advice do you have for up-and-coming-poets?
Work hard, and be patient. Don’t hurry things up, just to get published. A poet has to work really hard to make a decent presentation, that’s solid and original.

A poet can find inspiration in places most would not expect. How do you get inspiration for your poems?
I find inspiration in nature. In the cosmos. I connect with everything in nature, like rivers, the sea, the earth, the little streams in the streets, the cities, people, animals. It’s nature that allows me to lie. It’s nature that allows me to write with so much passion.

Is there a special story behind any of your poetic works?
Not really. It all depends on what I want to share with readers. My poems have a lot of color to them. Everyone interprets them differently, according to their level of understanding, whether moral, spiritual, aesthetic, or philosophical.

It’s been said that a poem can be harder to compose than an entire novel. What are your thoughts on this?
I wouldn’t say that there is one that’s easier than the other. Each of them have their own thing. A poem is a poem. A novel is a novel. What’s mostly important, in my opinion, is to respect certain principles. It’s honoring certain requirements to satisfy every reader.