Letter to Ayiti #2: Kampe Ansam (Stand Together)

Ayiti,

Now that I have found my strength, I have so much to tell you.

The world is at your feet, again.
They have seen your body shake
with suppressed cries and laments
and shouts
they have come
finally
some of them remembering the times when
you sat them lovingly your feet
hand upon their shoulders
counseling on freedom and emancipation

they do not remember Boukman's ritual at Bois-Caiman any longer
they do not remember François-Dominique Toussaint Louverture

but I do
and I will tell my children
and they will know
and they will remember how you inspired Boriken and Cuba and Jamaica
and the whole world
and they will know that you showed us all
your maps to freedom
and that you were free first

Ayiti,
your brothers and sisters are gathering in prayer and dance circles
in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Harlem

they are standing up on your behalf
your flag draped over their shoulders for comfort
as they navigate these darks days

The children of Saint Domingue and Ayiti have joined together
on the island of Manhattan, as well
fututus, vaksinn, and machetes in hand,
preparing the way for Gede

they are called Kalunga Neg Mawon and
and they carry the flag of unity,
reminding the world and each other
that you were One

your neighbor to the East, Puerto Rico,
has sent you 4 million pounds of food and relief
on the Barge of Hope-
she is 250-feet long, 80-feet wide
and on her way to you now

Maferefun Elegua!
She will arrive on Monday
and feed Port-au-Prince for one week

you see, Ayiti?
the Sea is kind--
what could have taken days or weeks to transport via air
has been sent to you with love across the Sea,
which your children have worshiped and danced upon so many times--
you see?
Yemaya and Mami Wata always repay their children for their generosity

This makes he hopeful, Ayiti,
for I know that Boriken's children are hungry, too
they are in need of relief from many burdens
I have seen the open sores on her sons' bodies, like Lazarus,
oozing with pain and lost hopes drowned in manteca
I have seen her daughters' ravaged bodies,
infected by dirty needles and
violated by unloving hands

But even with this, she remembers you
and Cuba remembers you, too
she has no medicine to heal her children's ailments and woes
but her healers have made it to your shores
they remember when your children planted the fields of Oriente
and harvested the cane which filled their bellies for so long
Cuba remembers and she loves you, too

But that is not all
I want you to know that just yesterday,
one of your sons was recovered.
trapped 10 days under 3 stories, he survived
he is alive and and he is whole
22 years old with a lifetime ahead of him
and a sound memory in which to store maps of Port-au-Prince as it was
before the fall
he will remember your traditions and churches and street vendors
and how the Sun fell upon your face each day
so that his children never forget

and sister,
we have other life to celebrate!
no, we have lives to celebrate!
Baby Vincent was born on the USS Vincent just days ago
and he is perfect
Perhaps he will be like Vicente, my father- a warrior
Or like Vicente, my grandfather- a lover of beautiful things
Or like Vicente, my brother- a devoted father
Already your Vincent is great
for he has inspired US soldiers to nurture life with their precious hands
and make peace
and help things grow

Ayiti, give thanks for this sweet fruit,
for this seed planted on your rich soil

We stand together, sister.
Do not forget that you are not alone.