THE POETRY OF RUBY BUTE

Ruby Bute has published two books of poetry with illustrations. Her first book of verse was published in 1989, called: 'Golden Voices of S'maatin', by House of Nehesi Publishers, Philipsburg, St. Maarten. Her second book of verse with illustrations was published in 2000, called 'Floral Bouquets to the Daughters of Eve' by Columbia Publishers, San Francisco, California, USA. This book was re-published again in 2000.

'Ruby Bute was the first woman in St. Martin to publish a volume of poetry. Her poems, collected in this her first book, a seminal work, is fundamental to forming a body of "S'maatin" literature, which is now a fledgling phoenix thrashing in the glowing coal throat of our Oral Tradition. Bute's success and that of a genuine St. Martin people's literature, will be in the pursuit and originality and excellence, and in so doing is the place as a dynamic component of Our Caribbean's great oral / literary traditions.

"Ruby Bute's second volume of poems, 'Floral Bouquets to the daughters of Eve, is a tribute to women of all walks of life. It comes at a most appropriate time; a time when women have somewhat lost the true sense of their values,
She reminds us that we were not only created to be the companion of man, but to complement man, the perfect combination. We were intended to be, "the finishing touch to embellish a perfect and wonderful world."

This volume of verse is as diverse as a bouquet of flowers, but the central theme is what manner of woman can we be. Ruby Bute celebrates life in its most trying forms- struggles can be redeeming. The autobiographical flavor of her analysis adds sincerity and profundity to the reality which depicts the truth and forcefulness'

'Ruby brings forward the universal nature of women's experience. She refers to the Eternal Woman- past present and future. Her message is:

“Don’t give up, Keep struggling.
You will get your reward”

Ruby's message is powerful and it hits home. She encourages us to brush away our fears by drawing from within the necessary strength, courage, and pride inherent in our true nature as women:

“Being a woman with pride,
I would rise against the storms,
And continue on again”

To weather the storms of life, we must be conscious of who we are deep within: There is where our true self lies. That single moment of acknowledging who we are will change our destiny'.

“I run no more.
The roar of the lion
Will be my voice,
Proclaiming the Truth”

This is the single moment she wants all of us to experience; a unique moment when we, crippled by fear, ignorance, bitterness and misery, to go back in the history of our souls to reverse our condition.

“I am a woman
Who decides not to bend”

We must resist the destructive forces of oppression, exploitation, materialism, hypocrisy, lies and deprivation.
She is admonishing:

“When problems come to knock you down,
Stand tall and bare your chest.
We must not give in to hatred and unhappiness
Time will take its own revenge”

'Clara' by Ruby Bute

'The Pumpkin Seller' by Ruby bute

“Golden Voices or S'maatin is about direction, the linking of Self into Nation, and it achieves sincerely in being a gentle, and generative of a sweet S'maatin pride, an intense loving warmth, and a family strength which is, however harassed or late, steeped in the folk values and living culture of this Caribbean nation'.

'This is the message central to the three main poems- the three main flowers of the bouquet: 'A Woman Who Will Not Bend', 'Consciousness', 'My Life'. all others converge to reinforce or illustrate this central theme.
'A Woman Who Will Not Bend', tells of a turning point in a woman's life. It also powerfully illustrates the determined resolve of women during slavery'

“Become the gift yourself,
Then and only then will we experience the joy and power of life.
That is the essence of Woman: the gift of Life and Love”

*an illustration from ‘the Floral Bouquets to the Daughters of Eve'- 'We All need Love'-by Ruby Bute*

'Ruby we thank you for this inspiring message of what manner of Woman we can strive to be. You are telling us that the power to truly transform the world and make it a better place for mankind lies within us. Thank you for telling us how beautiful we can be, how beautiful we can become.
This volume of poems is your bouquet of flowers to all women. A gift from you to us'.

a foreword by Daniella Jeffry, Marigot, Saint Martin, Caribbean.

Illustrated Publications

2000- Cover Artwork and inside illustrations: 'Floral Bouquets to the Daughters of Eve Columbia Publishers, San Francisco, USA.
1998-< Cover Artwork and inside illustrations: 'Golden Voices of S' maatin', House of Nehesi Publishers, Philipsburg, St. Maarten.
1996- Illustration work: 'Its Time for a Change'- by N. E. Erna Mae Francis. E. Francis Global Enterprise, Cole bay, St. Maarten.
1996-1997- Illustration Artwork: 'National Symbols of St. Martin- A Primer', by Lasana. M. Sekou. House of Nehesi Publishers, Philipsburg, St. Maarten.

Selected Articles

2011 June- 'Ruby Bute', Pure Lige Style magazine launching.
2000 Oct- 'Golden Voices Re-Published', The Daily Herald, St. Maarten. Pg:9
1995 July- 'In My Own Write!, Conversations with Ruby' by Erna Mae Francis. The St. Maarten Guardian, pg: 5-6
1994 May- 'Bards for the Festival', The St. Maarten Guardian, pg: 13-14.
1992- 'Ruby Bute, Tale of a Concert, In Son's Courtyard, Fete - Celebrating St. Martin's Traditional Festive Music, by Lasana M. Sekou. House of Nehesi Publishers, pg: 41-43.
1991 Oct 'Caribbean Author Visits Cheshire' by Mary Beltrami, The Cheshire Herald, 1986- 'Artists and Models', Discover St. Martin/St. Maarten Magazine N*14, pg:23
1986-> 'Art on St. Martin', Discover St. Martin/St. Maarten Magazine N*4, pg:111-118,