This book could not have been written if the following persons had not been there. My parents Eroditha and Juan, whom I admire greatly. They are two people who had struggled a lot so that we, their children, could have come far in life. My sisters Angelique Giterson and Brendalique Giterson who always support me. My cousin Terrence and niece Tessally Locadia who indirectly inspire me. And of course my husband Gerald Martina who had enough patience with my poetic mind. Thank you to the following persons for their valuable linguistic and poetic advice: Thelma Anthonia, Enrique Muller, Jules Marchena, Franklin Clemencia and Silvio Jonis. I am very happy that I could count on the financial support of the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. The images of yotin kòrtá and Juan di Oro come from the Museum of the Central Bank of the Netherlands Antilles. A special thanks also to everyone who contributed in one way or another to the creation and publication of this book.