MIRAMAR – “Baby mi love yuh like cook food” or “A yuh mi waan fid deh wid” – wonderful phrases of endearment in Inna Mi Heart, a book of exciting Jamaican love poetry by author, comedienne and cultural educator, Joan Andrea Hutchinson.
The book, published over a year ago, provides a vehicle for the tied tongues of individuals who want to express themselves on issues of love, but just can’t find the words. Part of the problem the author feels is that “they don’t teach it in schools”, adding that it is even harder for Jamaican men who have been taught by society to play tough.
The 61 poem collection, all written in the Jamaican language, run the gamut of emotions from seeing someone from a far and liking the person and but not knowing what to say, to being in love, to when the relationship is at its end and you want to out.
Each book is printed with a bookmark and the idea is that whatever emotion you wish to communicate to someone else, you simply bookmark the poem and deliver the book to the object of your affection or disaffections. This allows you to save your face if you are nervous, as you never have to see the individual.
Other topics dealt with in the book include falling in love with someone else even when you have a steady partner, being jealous when your ex partner seems in a happy relationship, and wanting consistent love rather than wine and roses on Valentine’s day.
Inna Mi Heart, celebrates love and relationships, and is a good ‘pick me up’ for relationships in trouble. Can you imagine after a little spat in a relationship your partner says “no matter how wi miserable up wiself, mi glad a you mi choose.”
Aside from being well known as a champion of Jamaican language and culture, Hutchinson’s decision to write a body of love poems in the language was deliberate. She said she needed to dispel the myth that the Jamaican language can only be used to communicate coarse and basic concepts, and is less able than English in couching fine emotions. “Can you imagine being told by your partner ‘morish like peckeh peckeh potato pudden, dat a fi mi love?”
Inna Mi Heart, is in no way a Valentine’s Day book, but rather a book for all reasons and seasons, for all those who have ever loved or are planning to love. And even if the only person you have to love is yourself …Inna Mi Heart is still a great read.
Hutchinson will be performing poems from The Book when she appears on the Valentine’s variety show, Love is a Funny Little Thing at the Miramar Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, February 14, along with vocalist Karen Smith, Steve Higgins, Audley Rollen, Junior Soul as well as comedians Chris Daley and Rohan Gunther.
