FELIX MORISSEAU-LEROY   

   Born in Grand-Gosier, Haiti
   Writer of poetry, novels and theatre plays


Boat People 

We are all in a drowning boat  Happened before at St. Domingue
We are the ones called boat people

We all died long ago  What else can frighten us  Let them call us boat people

We fight a long time with poverty  On our islands, the sea, everywhere
We never say we are not boat people

In Africa they chase us with dogs  Chained our feet, embark us
Who then called us boat people

Half the cargo perished  The rest sold at Bossal Market
It's them who call us boat people

We stamp our feet down, the earth shakes  Up to Louisiana, down to Venezuela
Who would come and call us boat people

A bad season in our country  The hungry dogs eats thorns
They didn't call us boat people yet

We looked for jobs and freedom  And they piled us on again: Cargo- direct to Miami
They start to call us boat people

We run from the rain at Fort Dimanche  But land in the river at Krome
It's them who call us boat people

Miami heat eats away our hearts  Chicago cold explodes our stomach
Boat people boat people  boat people

Except for the Indians-  All Americans are immigrants 
But it's us they call boat people

We don't bring drugs in our bags  But courage and strength to work
Boat people- Yes, that's allright, boat people

We don't come to make trouble  We come with all respect
It's them who call us boat people

We have no need to yell or scream  But all boat people are equal, the same
All boat people are boat people

One day we'll stand up, put down our feet  As we did at St. Domingue
They'll know who are boat people

That day, be it Christopher Columbus  Or Henry Kissinger- They will know
Whom we ourselves call people