Poetry of Revolution: Romanticism and National Projects

this poem to commemorate the life and works of a Haitian poet about whom little information is

available in current texts. According to Pompilus’ research, this poem was widely publicized as

an oraison funèbre at Hippolyte’s death in 1868.^197 At this time, Durand was working in a

government post as sécretaire au Conseil des Ministres. It is the only poem in Rires et Pleurs

followed not only by a specific year but also by a day and month; the inscription of “le 27

novembre 1868” indicates the day of Hippolyte’s public funeral. The praises throughout the

poem are meant as a mournful and reverent tribute to the poet whose divine inspiration has

brought glory to his nation:

A la couronne d’or que la sainte patrie

Réserve pour le front de ses nobles élus,

En voyant se glacer cette tête chérie

Elle vient d’ajouter une perle de plus. (21-24)

All of Haiti witnesses this departure to a celestial sphere where only poets are called and

where other Haitian poets also reside; three of the Haitian poets mentioned from other

generations, Ardouin, Milscent, and Ignace Nau, are the same as those in Durand’s “Dédicace.”

Hippolyte’s young life, however, left much poetry to be written, and he took his place too soon

among the nation’s departed elect. This poem suggests fulfillment of earlier ambitions, those of

the 1830s generation to have poets in Haiti. Hippolyte and Durand are part of this growing

tradition. As the poem progresses, the tone becomes less formal, and as the speaker shifts from

using “vous,” to “tu,” he addresses “Ducas” in the final stanza as a renowned poet and as an

intimate friend. In this way, the poet commissioned to write the funeral oration becomes more

intimately aligned with the poet whose memory is celebrated. As a result, Durand’s own poetry

(^197) Pradel Pompilus and Roland Thadal, Pradel Pompilus: Textes Réunis (Port-au-Prince: Imprimerie Editions des
Antilles, 2002) 15.