They reside on the other side of the city
They bathe in the quiet and still fertility
They own yard-keepers and docile servants
Dogs, cats, hyenas and precious plants.

They breathe the camphorated air like us
Swallow the transparent and abominable dust
Cross over and fall in the muddy rivers like saints
Like our siblings living under the tiny tents.

They reside on the other side of the old towns
Over the mountains, not too far from the plains
They bathe in tranquil fertility
Of the country-side, not too far from the city.

They ignore that we are the same, the same formulas
And that we live and endure daily the same dilemmas
And one day, them and us, all of us will answer
Present in the river, under the bridge of forever.


Copyright © September 1982, Hébert Logerie, All rights reserved
Hébert Logerie is the author of several collections of poems.

Let's not be afraid to make a stand
Against hate and bigotry on this land
Let's stop the hypocrites cold
Now. Let's repudiate their old
Ideas and their archaic and spurious values
Let's unmask them and expose their views
Sectarianism may be a fancy or ostentatious word
To talk about racism. But it is the same sharp sword
Which can decapitate and destroy good people
Bigotry is bad. May you be white, black or purple
Let's be against white prejudice
Let's be against black prejudice
Let's be against ignorance and intolerance
Let's vote for love, intelligence and common sense
Say NO, loud and clear to bigotry
Vote NO, against racism and hate
Vote for love, equality, and liberty
Expose and vote against the candidate
Who despises the Muslims, the Mexicans
The Syrians and the wounded Veterans
They are all our brothers and sisters
Who are suffering under strange situation
Let's vote against the bigots and the haters
Let's say NO to racism, and take action
At the voting booth. Let's vote for UNITY
And togetherness. Together: we are strong
Divided: we are weak, stupid and wrong
Let's find no excuses, let's defeat the followers
Of ******, Mussolini, the Third *****, the haters
Who are sneaky, deceitful, duplicitous, and shady
We are ONE against the bullies of this country
Let's vote for LOVE, freedom, liberty, and fraternity
Let's vote against sectarianism, hate, and bigotry
Today, tomorrow, and forever
Love is eternal; love is better.

Copyright © November,2016 Logerie Hébert, All Rights Reserved
Hebert Logerie is the author of several collections of poetry.

Ils consomment des chiens chauds, hot dogs
Aussi
Comme vous
Mais ils ne mangent pas de chiens
Jamais, jamais
Ils ne mangent pas de chats
Ils ne mangent pas d'animaux de compagnie
Jamais, jamais.

Les immigrants mangent des sangliers
C'est du ‘Griot piqué’
Ils ne mangent pas de lapins
Mais ils mangent du ‘Tasso épicé’
Et bien sûr, ils mangent des hot dogs, des chiens chauds.

Les Haïtiens mangent et boivent de la Soupe Joumou
Dans laquelle nagent des légumes et bien sûr des carottes
La cuisine haïtienne
Est très, très bonne
Les immigrants consomment de bonnes viandes
Comme vous.

Arrêtez d'être raciste
Arrêtez d'être fasciste
Vos ancêtres mangeaient des chiens
Pas les immigrants, pas les Antillais
Et surtout pas les Haïtiens
Arrêtez cette haine honteuse
Pensez à votre sort
Au dernier rendez-vous
Les immigrants mangent des cochons frits
Comme des milliards d'Américains
Qui aiment les tartes aux pommes
Arrêtez les mensonges, arrêtez tous les mensonges.

P.S. Traduction de ‘They Eat Good Hot Dogs’.

Copyright © Octobre 2024, Hébert Logerie, Tous droits réservés.
Hébert Logerie est l'auteur de nombreux recueils de poésie.

They consume hot dogs
Too
Like you
But they don’t eat dogs
Never, ever
They do not eat cats
They do not eat pets
Never, never.

Immigrants eat wild boars, wild hogs
That’s hot Griot
They don’t eat rabbits
But they eat spicy Tassot
And of course, they eat hot dogs.

Haitians eat and drink Soup Joumou
Which contains vegetables and of course carrots
Haitian food
Is very, very good
Immigrants consume good meats
Like you.

Stop being racist
Stop being supremacist
Years ago, your ancestors used to eat dogs
Not immigrants, not West Indians
Not Haitians
Quit the hate
Think about your fate
On the final date
Immigrants eat fried wild hogs
Like zillion of Americans
Who love apple pies
Stop the lies, stop all the lies.

Copyright © October 2024, Hébert Logerie, All rights reserved.
Hébert Logerie is the author of numerous collections of poetry.