Nineteen Thirty Seven (Krik?Krak!)

Nineteen thirty seven begins with the Madonna porcelain doll crying as Josephine is in her room.  The next day she travels to Port-Au-Prince to visit her mother at the prison.  Josephine’s mother was in prison for being accused of flying with wings made of flames, for being a “witch.” Josephine tells of three times she visits her mother..” The third time Josephine visits her mother she realizes her mother is very sick. The day after Josephine visits her mother a woman stops by her house in Ville Rose and once Josephine recognizes the woman she informs her that her mother may or may not have passed. As they arrive at the prison and ask for Josephine’s mother the guard tells them that she will be ready for burning in the afternoon.  The narrator often reminisces of the visits her and her mother made to the massacre river. She tells how thousands of Haitians were murdered and thrown in that river including Josephine’s grandmother. One day as Josephine and her mother visit the river Josephine thinks she will see all the blood and bodies but all she can see is her reflection.  Josephine’s mother tells her that she was born the day of the massacre as she had been able to escape leaving her mother behind. Josephine’s mother tells her “At least you came out at the right moment to take my mother’s place.” Relationship between mother and daughter seems to be emphasized a lot throughout the story. It is as if they mother and daughter kept each other going and supported each other. The massacre river is also has an importance significance. The river signifies remembrance for the history but also hope for the future this can be seen when Josephine does not see blood but only her reflection.  Throughout the story the Madonna is always emphasized; Josephine always takes her everywhere and I think this signifies religion, spirituality and hope as well because it is passed on from mother to daughter as if mothers were saying when I am not here it is as I will still be here if you have the Madonna.