'Mèsi Papa Desalin' poem by Morisseau-Leroy

'Mèsi Papa Desalin' (Thank you Father Dessalines) is a famous poem by Félix Morisseau-Leroy (Kreyòl: Feliks Moriso-Lewa) (March 13, 1912 Grand-Gosier - September 5, 1998 Miami), it was written in 1979.

This poem in honoring Jean-Jacques Dessalines shows in which regard Dessalines is held until this day, over 200 years after his victory over the French army under General Rochambeau (in 1803), which led to the Haitian proclamation of independence.

The poem also illustrates the difference between foreigners of European descent, who often highlight Dessalines killings of French colonialists, and Haitians and others of African descent for which Dessalines achievements in the fight for freedom from colonial oppression and the lasting impact on the African diaspora are dominant.

The contemporary view of Dessalines and his struggle for Haiti's independence, which this poem illustrates, gives a small glimpse of how large the events of 1804 and their protagonists loom in everyday Haitian life.

Kreyòl Version
Note: For an translation into English, see the link below.

English Version
Thank you Father Dessalines* by Morisseau-Leroy

Thank you Dessalines, Father Dessalines, thank you When I realize who I am today I say Thank you, Dessalines Every time I hear a colonized Negro, A Negro that is still captive of censorship I say : Thank you, Father Dessalines Only I, know what you mean to me Thank you, Father Dessalines If I am a whole human being today I have to say: Thank you Father Dessalines If I can open my eyes and look at my surroundings It is thanks to you, Dessalines If I walk with my head up high It is thanks to you, Dessalines Every time I look at another Negro I say : Thank you Dessalines When I look at what’s happening in the world I say : Thank you, Dessalines When I hear the White men’s voices I say : Father Dessalines, thank you When I hear my brothers and sisters I say : Thank you, Father Dessalines Only I, know, what you mean to me Mighty Dessalines, Dessalines, my blood, Dessalines, apple of my eye Dessalines, my womb Only I know why All Negroes must say Thank you Dessalines, You showed us the way Thank you Dessalines You are our guiding light Dessalines, You gave us the earth we walk on The skies over our heads, The trees, the rivers The sea, the ponds, it is all you, Dessalines, it is you who gave us the Sun The Moon, You gave us our brothers, our sisters Our mothers, our fathers, our children It is you who shaped us this way Who thought us to be unique We are not like other Negroes When I look people straight in the eye It is you who is looking at them, Dessalines It is you who gives us water and who quenches our thirst It is you who gives us food and satisfies our hunger Thank you, Father Dessalines And, it is you who gives us shelter The earth we harvest It is you who taught us to sing It is you who taught us to say : NO They say some Negroes say : yes, yes! Other says: Yes, master ! You taught us to say : NO! Dessalines taught all Negroes on earth how to say : NO Thank you, Father Dessalines Some Negroes try to explain That today does not resemble yesterday And that now, Human fraternity, Humanity, civilization, All that is gibberish! All I know is Dessalines! I say : Thank you, dear father You gave me life My mother is your daughter Young boys and young girls are your children Thank you, Dessalines My grandchildren are your children King Dessalines, thank you No need to mention our flag! No need to evoke Arcahaie And Gonaïves We already mentioned it! Who needs to hear it again? October 17th requiem mass? Who visits the cathedral? The Minister’s speech? Who will listen to it? As far as I am concerned I will say one word : thank you Thank you Father Dessalines Some do not know, I must tell them That without you we would not exist Thank you, Father Dessalines Let us finish with our Pater noster Your Eminence, Dessalines is not dead Stop speaking French, Minister Dessalines will never die Dessalines is amongst us This man cannot die! Dessalines is in my heart Ready to fight He’s watching

The day will come when Dessalines will rise That day, everyone will know We will know if Dessalines made 1804 Arcahaie Crête-à-Pierrot And Vertières So our writers could write poetry So our ministers could say speeches So our priests could sing Te Deum So Your Eminence could give absolution Dessalines does not need absolution All that Dessalines accomplished is respectable One day Dessalines will rise And shouts will come from the Caribbean sea Asking : Where is he? Dessalines took his weapons Arrest him! At that moment, we will hear his voice like thunder At the signal: Decapitate them, burn their houses! They will ask that he be arrested Dessalines’ voice will already be on the air Decapitate them, burn their houses! In Harlem, Dessalines is putting the house in order We will hear : Arrest him! All the way to Dakar All the way to Johannesburg We will hear : where has Dessalines gone? Decapitate them, burn their houses? Dessalines does not need absolution Dessalines does not need God’s forgiveness On the contrary : Dessalines is God’s hand Dessalines is God’s justice He does not need Your Eminence’s Pater noster Some men are requesting the White men’s excuses Dessalines does not need these actions For all Dessalines accomplished : Father Dessalines, thank you For all he will do I say: Thank you, Father Dessalines. * Translated by Marie-Hélène Destiné

Books by Morisseau-Leroy in English

 * Morriseau-Leroy, Felix and Constantine, Peter. (2003) Three Haitian Creole Tales. St. Paul, MN: Consortium Book Sales and Distribution. (paper) ISBN 1931243220.

Images

 * Morisseau-Leroy Portrait - by Stephen Malagodi