Burning; Cap-Haitien

We are burning -

under this relentless sun

melting pavement

burns our feet

bodies black

like charcoal swim

a sea of sweat

to survive the heat

We are burning -

the cross of hunger

upon our backs

bent beneath

burdened air

pores poisoned

by industrial hands

Child soldiers

bathed in concrete dust

sleepless nights

drenched in squalor

thirsty bones

no mercy spared

in these streets

We are burning -

fires of Africa

consume our

Native isle

strip our soils of sustenance

rape our women of gold

With broken backs

the old toil

and die here

sacrifice breath

for tomorrow's love of son

bleed dry

that mother may stand

the story

of a pure man's heart

never told

We are burning -

still we rise

believing

the waters of heaven

will greet us -

salvation is ours

as hell we have seen.