Study Questions for the Poem Haiti, Oh, Haiti by Marvin X

[Marvin X]

Haiti, Oh, Haiti


Haiti, Oh, Haiti
valiant
rich African history
mighty in battle
in religion supreme

Haiti, Oh Haiti
defeated Spanish, French, English
your only sin
never forgiven
by devils lingering on your island in the sun

there are those who say evil shall prevail
but evil shall eat crow
this the devils shall know

Haiti, Oh Haiti
arise
as you did the Spanish, French, English
Come forth Toussaint, Dessalines, Bokman
Come in the name of Vudun
Check the devils at the crossroads

Haiti, Oh Haiti
Where is your president who loved the poor
flown into exile by those across the shore

Haiti, Oh Haiti
your grave yards are not junk yards
but fields of life, hope, love
honor the dead, remember your history
you devoured the Spanish, French, English

Let the earth consume the evil ones
yes, the innocent must suffer
til the valiant children take control
in the name of ancestors
the living and yet unborn.

--Marvin X
1995, revised 2010

Study Questions for Haiti, Oh, Haiti

1. What is meant by valiant, rich African history in general and Haiti in particular?
2. What battle is the poet is speaking about?
3. Why is Haiti said to be supreme in religion? What is the religion or religions of Haiti?
4.Why did Haiti defeat the Spanish, French, English? Haiti aided the US in what battle? She aided
Simon Bolivar in what battle? Who is Simon Bolivar?

5. Why is defeating the Spanish, French, English their only sin? What French general did Haiti defeat?
6. Who are Toussaint, Dessalines and Bokman?
7. What is Vudun. This may have been answered in question number 3.
8. What is the crossroads? Who is the god of the crossroads?
9. What president loved the poor?
10. Who flew him into exile? Where is he exiled today?
11. Why are grave yards called junk yards?
12. Why must the innocent suffer and how long?
13. What is the role of children?
14. What is ancestor worship?

Some answers may be found on the poet's other blog: www.blackbirdpressnews.blogspot.com