Rodney Saint-Éloi's Poetry Collection 'Fais du feu' Explores Renewal Through Fire

Rodney Saint-Éloi's poetry collection 'Fais du feu' was published on April 9, 2026. The Haitian-Canadian poet uses fire as a central motif throughout the work, framing it as a force for destruction that enables renewal. Saint-Éloi connects fire to primal human experiences, childhood memories of cooking sweet potatoes in Haiti, and the essential role of flame in sustaining life and community. The collection contains approximately one hundred poems that function as a single cohesive piece, with the titular phrase serving as both opening and closing refrain. Published by Mémoire d'encrier, the publishing house Saint-Éloi founded to amplify diverse voices from the Caribbean and the Americas, the work addresses themes of exile, memory, Haiti, dignity, and resistance. The poet describes fire as unpredictable once ignited, capable of burning away old layers to make space for new beginnings. He positions poetry itself as the hearth where this transformative spark can be rekindled, particularly during times of global uncertainty when illumination becomes crucial. Saint-Éloi, who moved from Haiti to Montreal in the 2000s, has become a significant figure in contemporary Francophone literature both as an author and as a cultural bridge-builder.