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'Mèsi Papa Desalin' poem by Morisseau-Leroy
From TLP
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.
Contents |
'Mèsi Papa Desalin'
Kreyòl Version
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Mèsi papa Desalin 1 Papa Desalin, mèsi
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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.
See also
- Memoir of Toussaint Louverture, Written by Himself - Includes several passages dealing with Jean-Jacques Dessalines.
- Toussaint Louverture letter to Jean-Jacques Dessalines - 1802 Letter by Toussaint Louverture asking Dessalines to burn down Port-au-Prince.
- William Wells Brown - Dessalines - 1863 perspective from an African-american writer from the book The Black Man, His Antecedents, His Genius, and His Achievements.
- Act of Independence - English translation of the document from 1804.
- Haitian Revolutionary Battles with decisive participation of Dessalines:
- Battle of Crète-à-Pierrot - One of the fiercest battles against the French troops (1802)
- Battle of Vertières - The final and victorious battle before independence (1803)
- La Dessalinienne - Haitian national anthem named in honor of Jean-Jacques Dessalines.
Images
- Morisseau-Leroy Portrait - by Stephen Malagodi
External links
- Left Curve: Poems of Félix Morisseau-Leroy - Three poems translated into English with a short note on Morisseau-Leroy's life and publications.
- Wikipedia: Félix Morisseau-Leroy - Background on the important Haitian writer.
