Manje kwit pa gen met — Cooked food has no owner. Haitian proverbs are as beautiful and expressive as their people. A gorgeous spirit of sharing spills throughout the land. I was on the receiving end of such food there, which fed me in more ways than one. It was there that I met a young boy named Belew. Many years ago, I was visiting my close friend, Kim Montroll, in the tiny mountain village of Lazil. After I had met the boy, Kim tearfully told me how he turned loose of what he had.
Belew lived at Belanj and Bemarie’s house, where Kim also lived. His mother, living further up in the mountains, didn’t have the means to feed and care for him. The couple welcomed him. He helped with work, and they made sure he went to school, paying his school fees, and giving him a home. Still, he had little.
On her long trip to town, Kim bought Belew a pack of M and M’s, excited to treat him to his own bag of candy. She presented her gift, saying “you work so hard for everyone. This is for you”. Smiling broadly, and saying thank you, he went back to work hauling water. Later that day, Kim spied a parade of children on that dirt road, each holding up an M and M, making sure it wouldn’t melt, smiling from ear to ear. She saw some kids taking a taste of it, and then sharing it with another. “The candy was for you!” Kim pleaded. Belew smiled, holding up the bag with one M and M in it, declaring happily, “I have mine!” A wise teacher for the great crowd that gathered.
Another boy in another great crowd, with two fish and a loaf of bread, turned loosed of what he had too.* Something we were all taught when we were young: to share. From there, the meal multiplied as fast as hearts were opened. The food of human kindness satisfies a hungry heart. Manje kwit pa gen met.
