haiti's flame:
the birth of black liberation
february 2025 | written By: Dr. erlange elisme
Before her flag unfurled with pride,
Before her peaks scraped crystal skies,
Haiti's warriors crossed the foam,
Far from their embattled home.
In Savannah, seventeen-seventy-nine,
Six hundred formed their battle line
Chasseurs-Volontaires, fierce and bold,
Their valor Time cannot withhold.
Though chains still bound their island's shore,
They fought for freedom evermore.
In Georgia's clay, their blood seeped deep,
A debt that history must keep.
Before her peaks scraped crystal skies,
Haiti's warriors crossed the foam,
Far from their embattled home.
In Savannah, seventeen-seventy-nine,
Six hundred formed their battle line
Chasseurs-Volontaires, fierce and bold,
Their valor Time cannot withhold.
Though chains still bound their island's shore,
They fought for freedom evermore.
In Georgia's clay, their blood seeped deep,
A debt that history must keep.
Then Boukman's voice split midnight air,
Saint-Domingue rose in righteous prayer.
The sugar fields blazed fierce and bright,
As thousands seized their freedom's right.
Toussaint arose with thunder's might,
While Dessalines led freedom's fight.
Christophe raised his fortress high,
Where liberation touched the sky.
Eighteen-oh-four—the world stood still
As Black hands wrote their sovereign will.
Haiti's triumph shook all lands,
Power seized by callused hands.
Saint-Domingue rose in righteous prayer.
The sugar fields blazed fierce and bright,
As thousands seized their freedom's right.
Toussaint arose with thunder's might,
While Dessalines led freedom's fight.
Christophe raised his fortress high,
Where liberation touched the sky.
Eighteen-oh-four—the world stood still
As Black hands wrote their sovereign will.
Haiti's triumph shook all lands,
Power seized by callused hands.
Napoleon's empire reeled and broke,
Till Louisiana's fate was spoke
Three million acres stretching far,
Sold beneath Haiti's rising star.
In New Orleans, through centuries' of haze,
Where Congo Square still holds its praise,
Haiti's rhythms found new ground
In jazz's wild, unfettered sound.
Through hurricanes and foreign reign,
Through poverty and crushing pain,
Haiti stands—unbowed and free,
First Black republic by the sea.
Till Louisiana's fate was spoke
Three million acres stretching far,
Sold beneath Haiti's rising star.
In New Orleans, through centuries' of haze,
Where Congo Square still holds its praise,
Haiti's rhythms found new ground
In jazz's wild, unfettered sound.
Through hurricanes and foreign reign,
Through poverty and crushing pain,
Haiti stands—unbowed and free,
First Black republic by the sea.
© 2025 All Rights Reserved. This poem is protected by copyright law. No part of this work may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the copyright holder, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
Dr. Erlange Elisme, DSW
CEO / Owner & Author
Website: https://elismeconsultingservices.com
Phone number: 678-595-6446
Email: [email protected]
CEO / Owner & Author
Website: https://elismeconsultingservices.com
Phone number: 678-595-6446
Email: [email protected]