Li dit moin you ça, “Mourose,”
Nan tout ’grand zaffaires faut dit “Houme”
Mais peut-on flanqué moin youn claque
On pilôt terminer ainsi;
Badinez bien avec Macaque
Mais na pas magnié queue à li.
To get the true ring of popular Creole it is necessary to examine their proverbs. M. J. J. Audain, a well-known Haytian, whose first literary efforts brought him into trouble, has published a collection which is very complete.[19] As Hayti becomes older as a nation and loses its French element, we may have a distinct Creole literature. There are many proverbs in M. Audain’s collection that would be quite incomprehensible to an untravelled Frenchman:—
- 16. Soufflé fatras pou ou bonais d’lo.
- 17. Bonais d’lo, ranne couie.
- 124. Quand digdale vernis piquée, cale basse vide douée pringa corps li.
The following are easy enough to understand:—
- 174. Bouré empile pas allé avec piti figu.
(Too much hair does not suit a little face.) - 60. Gé ouait, bouche pé.
(The eyes see, the mouth speaks.) - 73. Chique pas jaimain respecté pié grand mouché.
(Jiggers never respect the feet of the gentry.)