The Demonstrations Are For Whom, In Haiti Poem by Hebert Logerie

In Haiti, the daily demonstrations are against whom?
The impromptu demonstrations are for whom, in Haiti?
Cities, buildings, houses and streets are set on fire.
They burn the skin of poor people strewn on the tires
Of Father Lebrun. The stench of human flesh and clothes
Embalmed and contaminated the unhealthy atmosphere,
Which has existed for a long time. The street children
Breathe this abominable air, where a polluted and stinky rain
Falls sporadically on the muddy sidewalks that are covered
With fouls, filthy rubbish and materials, and unashamed worms
That parade in the middle of the day under the rays of a sun,
Which neutralizes microbes that offer little sleep
To the poorest in the ugly slums. Countless people are paid
To protest for the criminal and cunning oligarchy
That loots even the state coffers through the means of juicy,
Corrupt and lame contracts. Yet the poor people applaud the rats
And the sneaky mice that eat and destroy all that is good
For the innocents, who are flouted and zombified. Oh! It's the tone
That makes the slogan of the well and badly disguised clowns,
Who demonstrate for the billionaires with kleptomaniac hands
That lurk in the coffers of the state and in the pockets of the oppressed.
You are protesting against whom? Oh! You're hurting yourselves who have
Or own nothing; you're hurting your destitute and hungry neighbors,
Who are as thirsty as the dry soil that has not seen a drop of rain for
Many months. Oh! Poor people. Oh! Compatriots, the sun only shines
For the rich and the moon will not light the streets of the slums tonight.
The stars will look at you, dear sisters and brothers, with disdain.
What are you doing? Everything is on fire, yet you hope for a poor tomorrow.
Before you gather on the streets, you must think like a poet, a genius,
Dear brothers and sisters. You are in the pond; you must change your life.

Copyright © November 18,2019, Hébert Logerie, All rights reserved.
Hébert Logerie is the author of several books of poetry.