I have tears in my eyes for Haiti

At Christmas

But I am not crying

At the midnight mass

Tears could not stop flowing

Because there is too much misery

Too much pain, too much abject poverty

Too much ugly deception

And odious corruption

In our beloved country

Haiti is yours and mine

Only you and me

Only we; you and I

Can change the chaotic situation

Our people deserve better

Than these ‘energumens’ said one former

Senator. Haiti merits better, much better

All past politicians must be ignored

And be sent straight to the dungeons

These traitors must be sent to the sword

As punishment for having inflected so much violence

And having introduced kidnappings and savage crimes in Haiti

I am neither preaching nor advocating violence. Oh! Lord

I am telling the truth. And we must stop the misery

The hunger, the backstabbing, the nonsense, the hypocrisy

And all nefarious and evil treatments that our people

Do NOT deserve. Tonight, the priests are in purple

Yet, we cannot rejoice, because all good Haitians are suffering

I am sad

I am mad

I have water in my eyes, but I am not crying

I am resiliently resisting and I am still dreaming

Of a better, healthier and happier Haiti

Out of all sorts of illness, disunity, ignominy and misery.

 

Copyright © December 24, 2021, Hébert Logerie, All rights reserved

Hébert Logerie is the author of several books of poetry.