You shook
at seven point two you shook
you trembled and rocked and tore
collapsing, damaging, roaring and killing
You shook with untamed power
rumbling from deep below
with unbridled violence

Devastated streets
torn apart homes
streets filled with screaming and clouds of dust
and sounds of moving debris
whilst mothers, fathers, children and cousins
call out in search for their loved ones
blinded by dust
with bloodied hands to dig

Crumbled walls of concrete
with ribbons of tissue
fences as if folded by giants‘ play
bones and flesh and blood
trapped with living souls
in dim-lit crawling spaces under houses

Petit Trou, Petit Trou,
when will the help arrive?
Les Cayes in the thickening mud
as rain fell without compassion
with hospitals overloaded
and starving thirsty bellies
whilst mothers, fathers, children and cousins
call out in search for their loved ones
wading through the rubble, ruins of their homes
with bloodied hands to dig

Haiti, oh Haiti
pearl of the Carribean
home of the lwa
you threw off the chains of the colonizer
were the first black republic
and paid a heavy price

May you be heard!
May you be shown solidarity!
May the help come swiftly!
Prayers, ad much more than prayers
Hope and strength
Peace and prosperity
Safety and healing
From amidst the tears,
You are strong my cousins,
Rise.