by Ines P. Rivera-Prosdocimi<\/p>\n
Snow covers Port-au-Prince.
\nAt dawn, you cover the trees, the eyelids and lips
\nof the sleeping and those who wait.
\nThe neighborhood priest lies quietly; a mob fights
\nover him, over his arms fixed and crossed over
\nhis chest. His purple mouth holds the names
\nof their dead. And the concrete crucifix still sits,
\na black monument within the rubble. There will be
\nmore bodies to burn and bury. This one is
\none more. Don\u2019t be afraid of death, Anna sings.<\/p>\n
Papa repeats Haitians have always had dignity.
\nThey are not ashamed of being black
\nlike most Dominicans. At dawn, Papa sits rocking
\nbefore the TV, my god, my god, as a boy
\nspreads his arms to the sun; his snow covered limbs.
\nThe neighborhood priest lies quietly; a mob fights
\nfor his soul. In the Caribbean we bury our dead
\nquickly, knowing coffins don\u2019t preserve a thing.
\nDon\u2019t be afraid of death, Anna sings.<\/p>\n
Snow dust covers Port-au-Prince.
\nAt Dawn, you cover us. You cover
\nour bodies and rest in our mouths. You cover
\nour babies. You cover our concrete castles
\nnow fallen, and our streets. You bury
\nour playgrounds, and our children\u2019s children.
\nYou bury the orange of the flamboyan trees,
\nand all of the colors that are Haiti. And you cover
\nthis holy man we cannot burn or bury,
\nand so we sing his name. Don\u2019t be afraid
\nof death, Anna sings and sings. Brothers,
\nthe body is still, the soul in our mouths.<\/p>\n
(2018)<\/p>\n
Used by permission of the author.<\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Snow on Port-au-Prince: A Dirge by Ines P. Rivera-Prosdocimi Snow covers Port-au-Prince. At dawn, you cover the trees, the eyelids and lips of the sleeping and those who wait. The neighborhood priest lies quietly; a mob fights over him, over his arms fixed and crossed over his chest. His purple mouth holds the names of … Continue reading Snow on Port-au-Prince: A Dirge<\/span>