Slavery In Haiti

Haiti, the home of voodoo practices
Seventeenth Century Spain cedes to France
Catholic Spaniards trembled when they saw
“Dead” men revived to wander in trances

A vile poison can make men appear dead
Revival requires an antidote
But perhaps there is more to zombie lore
An explanation to why these souls woke

Brutally treated slaves worked sugar fields
Captives from Africa known as “Maroons”
As French aristocrats sat and grew fat
Blacks sweated for “sweets” in the tropic sun

Buried guilt deep at night still festers
For conscience is God’s gift to each man
Some may suppress it for just a short time
‘Til magical night envelopes the land

Spirits of those who were taken in chains
Are given by God a chance to rebel
Stalking the living in deathly pallor
Haunting their captors with visions of hell

“Zombifications,” Maroons erected
Spreading the horrors of slavery with anger
Showing the French what their evil produced
And putting their sanity in danger

So please put the voodoo dolls back on shelves
The needle-sharp pricks of remorse can sting
Enslaved Maroons prevail in heaven’s court
Our Creator’s eyes aren’t missing a thing

Magic, black or white, God sees no color
Love is bestowed on men of all races
And those who question the Lord’s intentions
Should look in the eyes of living-dead faces

Copyright © | Year Posted 2009



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12
Date: 11/20/2010 7:13:00 AM
Slavery certainly isn't dead. We got rid of one kind of slavery in this country, but there are other kinds too and just as bad. Love, Dave
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Date: 2/18/2010 10:34:00 PM
Such a compelling write. it pains me every time i hear about Haiti. it is truly depressing. & your poetry here shows great beauty within your heart, and power that lays in your soul. I hope your days are wonderful Carolyn. -Always & Forever Lynette
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Date: 1/29/2010 8:09:00 AM
that last stanza very powerful summary of your whole poem, Carolyn. Insightful and informative. well, I am off today. It's MOVIE day for me. LUv ya, Andrea
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Date: 1/16/2010 4:17:00 AM
Great Poem and great sketch of the heart touching sufferings of Haiti people. The poem becomes more poignant in the light of recent Haiti tragedy. You have done wonderful work to bring their real degraded conditions on which some are getting fat. Great work you are dong by pointing such problems. My sincere good wishes Carolyn and love Ravindra
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Date: 1/14/2010 4:32:00 PM
this poem caught my eye in light of the recent Haitian tradjedy. Well written, Carolyn.
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Date: 12/17/2009 7:47:00 AM
Carolyn, always you write with such human sensitivity of soul that readers are moved by your compassion ... but than that you show the world how art must engage the consciousness of our condition ... and much more still your poems speak with wisdom and beauty. Thanks for reading my humble work. I love you always ... enjoy the blessings of this holiday.
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Date: 10/20/2009 1:25:00 AM
Very Interesting Carolyn ..... i love it the aroma of the mystic is thick just the difference they do it for vengeance .....gr8 poem i heard Once they were a religion ...
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Date: 10/10/2009 11:02:00 AM
I love this one too..You're an amazing writer...Marty
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Date: 10/10/2009 6:45:00 AM
By the way, many of these voodoo "witches" are Catholic and deeply religious. The church has a long history with this "pegan" religion. And why not? The book "The Exorcist" relates several documented cases...Tim
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Date: 10/10/2009 6:23:00 AM
Wow - Awsome beautiful stuff Carolyn! Marie Leveau was a famous voodoo witch in N.O... where there are still "good" voodoo "witches" who have the neat little shops and will cast spells for you to help you with problems,etc. Go visit sometime! Marie's tomb is there too and it is called the most hanted tomb in the world...Tim
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Date: 10/9/2009 5:52:00 PM
spooky, truthy and wise! my friend!... and thanks for all your kind comments!... jim
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Date: 10/9/2009 3:42:00 PM
glad you popped to say Hi .we miss your writes..and you my dear friend-Charma
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Date: 10/9/2009 3:13:00 PM
Wow......Rhythm.....Flow everything awesome.
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Date: 10/8/2009 11:44:00 AM
WOW, I absolutely love this Quatrain.... Brilliance shows through your words, with immaculate rhythm.......:JP]
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Date: 10/8/2009 10:04:00 AM
Dear Carolyn, Neither Black or White, Great write as is your Forte If You entered this in the contest( which YOU should have) GOOD LUCK ALWAYS YOURS...HG
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Date: 10/8/2009 5:03:00 AM
Oh my, Carolyn. This one is a winner for sure. It is powerful, historical, and soul wrenching. Love, Dane Ann
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Date: 10/7/2009 8:38:00 PM
How true! Powerful and historic! Thanks for sharing. God bless! Milt
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Date: 10/7/2009 3:52:00 PM
A mavelous story you have penned, a fabulous moral to boot. Excellent writing throughout, I thankyou Carolyn for sharing the read. Many Blessings, Always, Adell
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Date: 10/6/2009 11:37:00 AM
You have such a wonderful way with your words, Carloyn! Whether it is history or mystery or anything in between, you tell it with poetc beauty! Slavery is such an ugly thing and nothing escapes Gods eyes. As always, excellent work, dear friend! Love and hugs, Robin
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Date: 10/5/2009 7:51:00 PM
Wow....awsome one!!=) Thanks a lot for the experience! I read about vodoo a while ago, I was stunned to see how powerful chemicals can be @.@
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Date: 10/4/2009 8:42:00 PM
Good write Carolyn,there is a lot of that here that you don't hear about. I live in Arizona and have written a book on it. Thanks for the kind words on Whirlwind, they can do their damage as well.....Danny
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Date: 10/4/2009 5:19:00 PM
Thanks for your advice, Carolyn. I made that change. Happy Sunday to you! Donna
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Date: 10/4/2009 4:01:00 PM
Well written historical poem, Carolyn.
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Date: 10/4/2009 8:25:00 AM
This is a powerful poem, really makes one think of the cruelty the slaves endured. How many times I myself, have wished for a voodoo doll and pins when hurt by another. But I agree, God sees all, and he will be the judge.
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Date: 10/3/2009 4:17:00 PM
intriging write, nicely done
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