poem a day/3

thousands dead photos over twitter
the mess melange deluge
Petit a petit l'oasieu fait sonid
little by little the bird makes its nest

until an earthquake
until an earthquake

what happens when there is no nest
because there is no tree
because there is no soil

thin limbs can carry so many children
before snapping

oh my god years of debt cooperating corruption
complexity (history-economics-politics)
not understood through the reference line
"haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere"
why do you think that is
the imported pigs and USAID white rice
driving down prices for decades
farmers forced off years of habit ritual work pride
land country soil trees homes schools streets

until an earthquake
until an earthqaue

Ayiti Cheri, m pa janm bliye
Dear Haiti, i never forget

tap tap, sweat, little mopeds to the mountains
sweat and dust
and unrefined stamina
Haiti Haiti Haiti Haiti
saying is praying and
i am on my knees
remembering Jose, Ansito, Gabie, Jovenel, Vivianne, Andre, Dadou, Liaute, Antonia, KC, Mama, Anita, Coleen,
mwen sonje ou
mwen renmen ou
delicate language may we wrap ourselves in
honor respect and feed on fresh mangoes

until an earthquake
until an earthquake

radical changes: the killing of haitian pigs
and the replacement of american pigs
spelled catastrophe before the letters could be written
white rice has no nutritional value

chains of debt from oppressive rulers
more than 90% walked over by the feet of the 10%
controlled even in their dreams by the arm of the elite

and the american dragon has blown its fire too
while shaking hands with the IMF and World Bank in the back room
drinking rum
so good
lets forget about all the people and sail away wherever
and keep these dirty secrets smudged in our back pocket

until an earthquake
until an earthquake


do you know what degaje (de-ga-zhay) means?
degaje - Haitian Kreyol for "make do"
how do the hungry make do with charcoal buried in earthqauke

no land, 98% deforested country
fire, water, protein precious
because why
this is not a self-made poor
chains on most are forced
go to the city to sell what you can and try to make it

poverty beyond the Haitian people's control

until an earthquake
until an earthquake

do not forget what a small group of committed people can accomplish
in suits, in lighted rooms, on international phones,
with literacy and greater life expectancies

the cost of wealth is death
the cost of wealth is life

profit by extortion, dispossession
reduces homes to slums
trees to charcoal
women and kids to submissive
i am ready to scream
global economic, international trade laws
debt cancellation stipulated with infinity clauses

until an earthquake
until an earthquake

wake up
wake up
no wonder i yell and kick my sleep
this is a nightmare
Haiti in the Caribbean, cruise around paradise
right, go on enjoy the ignorance, bask in stereotypes and justifications
stay safe and don't ask questions
keep drinking and soon we'll be in the DR
"where its safer"

and to all the garbled up shit on the walls i say

fuck you misrepresenting shrinking media
fuck you self-centered tourists
fuck you lies, corruption, deceit, slavery, sex slavery
fuck you gnawing poverty, death from diarrhea

before the earthquake
beyond the earthquake

with genuine support without strings attached
may struggle be met with resilience
may ability to reach deeply and heal be practiced
may mistakes, greed and injustice never be overlooked or dismissed
may it not take another earthquake to peel back these layers




Summer 2008 I worked and lived with an incredible Haitian family and made strong lasting relationships with several men and women from Cap Haitien (largest city in Northern Haiti). I worked with Sonje Ayiti (www.sonjeayiti.com) on several projects rooted in sustainable rural community development. At this time of crisis, if you are able to donate any funds, please visit the Sonje Ayiti website and contribute online or with check: PO BOX 83/ Grayson, GA 30017-0002.