Erzulie’s Skirt

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Erzulie’s Skirt

Ana-Maurine Lara

WASHINGTON, DCwww.redbonepress.com

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Erzulie’s Skirt

Copyright © 2006 by Ana-Maurine Lara

Published by:

RedBone Press

P.O. Box 15571

Washington, DC 20003

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the

publisher, except in the case of reviews.

10 09 08 07 06 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

First edition

Cover art copyright © 2006 by Wura-Natasha Ogunji

Cover design by E.M. Corbin

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN-13: 978-0-9786251-0-8

ISBN-10: 0-9786251-0-2

www.redbonepress.com

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This story is dedicated to the thousands of people who embark on the journey

between the islands and the mainland:regardless of the final resting place for our bones,

the waters will always carry our spirits.

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AAcckknnoowwlleeddggmmeennttssI extend my deepest thanks to Lisa C. Moore, who with

laughter and brilliance brought this novel into fruition. This visionand fulfilled possibility would not have manifested without theencouragement and loving critique of my fellow writers andstrong women Tisa Bryant, Lisa Weiner-Mahfuz, and LuisaRondon-Lassen; without the encouragement of Yoseñio Lewis,Hsin I Liu, Tymika Mines and Holly Anderson. And definitelywithout the love, encouragement, carefully prepared meals andhugs of Wura-Natasha Ogunji—my partner in all of life’ssecret glories.

Getting this novel from idea to completion would not havebeen possible without the powerful support of theVONA/VOICES writers’ workshop participants and fearlessleader Gail Tsukiyama. Their critiques and careful reading of thework brought me to a deeper understanding of the writingprocess. Thanks to Judy Gex for her meticulous editing. It alsowould not have been possible to know where to go had I notbeen awakened to the publishing process by the Latina publishingguru Marcela Landres. Thank you.

And every writer should have a room of her own, but alsothe support to get away and retreat from the world. I would nothave been able to do this without the gifts of Sonia and SteveRaymund, the intellectual support and very real space provided bymy parents, Elizabeth and Erasmo Lara, and the generosity ofLisbeth Melendez-Rivera. Because of you I was able to do this.

I also have to thank Liety Acevedo, who when I first thoughtof this “crazy” novel idea suggested I actually sit down and writeit. And if VictorJose Santana hadn’t been there to make me laughat myself, perhaps I would have never actually tried.

I also can’t forget my ancestors. Their spirit lives on throughme, and I hope that in this initial humble offering, I have givensomething back to them.

Maferefun Changó, Yemaya and Ogun. Axé.

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CCoonntteennttss

Mapa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .x

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xiii

Chapter 1: MiriamEl Sur, Dominican Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Chapter 2: MicaelaSan Cristobal, Dominican Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

Chapter 3: Miriam and MicaelaLa Capital, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic . . . . . . . . .95

Chapter 4: Micaela and MiriamLa Capital, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic . . . . . . . .107

Chapter 5: Micaela, Miriam and ErzulieThe Caribbean Sea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153

Chapter 6: Micaela and MiriamPuerto Rico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

Chapter 7: Micaela, Miriam and YealidadEl Sur, Dominican Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .195

Chapter 8: Yealidad, Miriam and MicaelaEl Sur, Dominican Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .225

Reference Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .245

Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .249

About the Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255

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“No es posible contar los muertos de una manera confiable, aunque se cuentan por lo menos en centenares todos los años.”

~Diario Libre(report on small boat crossings between

the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico),November 3, 2003

Ersulie nain nain oh! Ersulie nain nain oh!Ersulie ya gaga gaza.

La roseé fait brodè tou temps soleil par lévé. La roseé fait brodè tou temps soleil par lévé. Ersulie nain nain oh! Ersulie nain nain oh!

Ersulie ya gaza.

~from Z.N. Hurston’s Tell My Horse

“Time is growing,” he added. “And our suffering is growing too.When will our suffering bear fruit? One great thought can alter the future

of the world. One revelation. One dream. But who will dream thatdream? And who will make it real?”

~Ben Okri, Infinite Riches

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IInnttrroodduuccttiioonnIt is a sleepy morning in the Atlantic Ocean. The sun has yet to

rise. The ocean lies relatively still, small waves dancing across thesurface. Looking down from the sky’s great heights, one would seedown to infinite depths, a velvety sapphire blue laced with crystal,prismic waves. Fishermen push their boats out from the shores,mumbling prayers as they enter the water.

Agwe, the great spirit of the ocean’s depths, stirs amongst thecorals. Erzulie, the great goddess of the sweet waters and the ocean’swaves, awakens. As a breeze begins to stir in the brightening light ofthe morning, the two spirits take breath. The ocean roars.

Agwe: Ay! Aaiiiee!Erzulie (yawn): Brrrr...Agwe: Good morning, my sirène.Erzulie: Good morning, Agwe, great spirit of the ocean’s depths.Agwe: How are the fishermen?Erzulie: Good. How are the fish?Agwe: Swimming.

The ocean gently pulls the boats into its embrace. The fishermenrow out from the shallows into the curve of the horizon. One fishermancalls out a song. The others respond in chorus. They set down their oarsand cast their nets. The sinewy chords sink into the blue.

Agwe: Ehh... My bones...Erzulie: Why do you complain, old man?Agwe: My bones hurt.Erzulie: It must be growing pains.Agwe: I suppose.Erzulie: It is sad and happy you are growing.Agwe: Sad and happy—those are feelings. You tell me you know whatthese are?Erzulie: Yes—I know what these are. Sad, like when so many peopledie. Happy, like when they are at peace again.Agwe: Hmm. I don’t know about all of that. I just know my bones hurt.Erzulie: Your bones, your bones! You should try dancing!

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Agwe: You should try being down here, in this cold with thismany spirits walking through you.Erzulie (sucking her teeth): Eh—you think that’s bad? I have tohold them all the way down. That tires me out sometimes.Agwe: Hmm.Erzulie: Hmm? Why do you say hmm, old man? Agwe: (yawn)

The sands thunder through the corals. Erzulie laughs.

Erzulie: That tickles!

Agwe stills.

Agwe: They are lonely down here. They don’t see each other, butI see all of them. They just wander about. And just this morning,I received another set of arrivals.Erzulie: I know you did! I brought them, remember? Agwe: It’s no cause to be joyful, Erzulie.Erzulie: Eh—I am not joyful! You think I do so much work tohelp these heads be born only to have them back so soon? Agwe: No.Erzulie: No. That’s right.Agwe: But that is the way, my sirène.Erzulie: It breaks my heart sometimes.Agwe: Some lights shine, others dim. And then there are thesespirits walking through my bones.Erzulie: At least they bring you fruits and flowers. I just getpictures of mermaids.Agwe: That is not true. You have so many husbands and wives Idon’t know how you manage.

Erzulie laughs. Waves twirl in the first rays of sun.

Erzulie: My arms reach far and wide—far and wide!Agwe: Yes, that is true. (Sigh)

As the sun fully enters the sky, the water shines emerald blueand green. The fishermen lie quietly in their boats, their nets cast,

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waiting for the sun to rise a little higher. The river deltas floodwith sweet water as the ocean swells up with low tide. Agwe holdshis breath.

Agwe: So tell me a story for today, sirène.Erzulie: You know the story as well as I do.Agwe: I suppose. I was hoping it would be different.Erzulie: Well, maybe it is.Agwe: You intrigue me. I see why they love you.Erzulie (laughs coquettishly): What if I gave you their names?Would that satisfy your curiosity?Agwe: It would begin to.Erzulie: Well, there’s Miriam and her two parents. They don’tknow she’s on her way. They’re still very sad from... well...Agwe: Yes, I remember that time.Erzulie: Well, Changó’s got plans for her. You know how he is.

The sky fills with thunder and lightning. The fishermen lookup from the water. One man points a finger at the sky. He pullstwo stones out of his pocket and wraps them together withnetting. The sky quiets.

Erzulie: Eh, Changó! Ayibobo!

Agwe laughs.

Erzulie: And then there’s Micaela. Just like her name sake—I hadto fight with Ogun for her. She can’t decide where to stay, whereto go. You’ll see her walking back and forth with me across thewater.Agwe: Oh—one of those.Erzulie: Hey, we need people like that, you know. Otherwise, theyforget. They forget about you, me, everything and everyone.Agwe: I know. I hear her and her father right now. He’s a greatman.Erzulie: Yes. But it is the women she comes from. There’s her, hermother, her grandmother, her great-grandmother, her great-great-grandmother, her great-great-great grandmother...Agwe: I get it.

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Erzulie: Yes, well, good. Besides them, there are many people.Agwe: Many people? Erzulie: Yes, many people. Nice people, mean people. You know.Other people who will love me, marry me, give me fruits, flowers,cigarettes and beer, perfume and all those good things.Agwe: And they are in today’s story.Erzulie: Of course! Agwe: I see.Erzulie: Don’t worry. They give you lots of nice things, too.Agwe: Well, it seems to me they are dancing with everyone else.They don’t even talk about me.Erzulie: Shhh. That’s because they must all dance with you in theend, my sweet old man.Agwe: Yes, I know. Aiieee—my bones.Erzulie: Well, besides Miriam and Micaela and all those people,there’s Yealidad. She’s going to be Anaísa’s daughter.Agwe: I see you like that.Erzulie: Of course! Anyone who comes from water is alrightwith me.Agwe: All of us come from water.Erzulie: Shh! Agwe: I am getting tired here, Erzulie. Just tell me the story.Erzulie: Fine, then. I will.

The day is full of light. The fishermen begin to slowly pulltheir nets in. Fish glisten through the clumps of seaweed. Themen head back to the shores.

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EERRZZUULLIIEE’’SS SSKKIIRRTT

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