CINQUÉ

The sea calm tonight.

Another night like this we buy
Freedom

dearly.

We strike

blood flow

we kill

We win.

We spare two

Take us home

Africa.

They trick us

We should not trust them

They bring us west

Demand us

sent to Cuba

Chain and whip

kill for crime.

America kind

teach us tell what happen

give us land grow food

talk in court

King with white hair

talk soft

convince

send us tell what happen that

night.

We make friend

 boy Kali

they love

pay for ship

We go home.

The sea calm tonight

Tonight peaceful

no fighting

no blood

just peace.

We go home.

Oscar A. Bouise

Professor Emeritus of History

Xavier University, New Orleans, 1981