haiti - statistics of loss

               1.
i can not count but so high
without losing my place
in the line of the dead
who sleep next to the homeless
and the hungry
weeping

              2.  
for three hundred years
they have paid
for loving their freedom
as much as they love
their gods

                3.
even the doctors are crying-
not for the ones who were past saving
but for the ones they could have saved

              4.
ten thousand bodies buried
in one hole
how large does that hole have to be
how deep?

                     5.
whose sons and daughters were responsible
for giving the order to give the order
to the send five planes
carrying over 77 thousand tons
of relief supplies away
whose sons and daughters
carried out those orders
whose sons and daughters
died because of them

                6.
you say katrina
and i say haiti
you say oh bush
and i say obama
oh bush, obama
katrina, haiti
let’s call the whole thing off

                       7.
when they dig out the last body
from the rubble
will hope be found
whimpering and covered in dust

                           8.
i am trapped inside a gapping mouth
riding on a scream
whose name is haiti

devorah major 1/2010

If you want to understand more about why Haiti is in the situation it is (the economic and political  earthquakes before the recent physical one) go to http://www.haitiaction.net/ 

The need continues to be great and although there are many places to give one that I know will get the support exactly where its needed is the Haitian Emergency Relief Fund - http://www.haitiaction.net/About/HERF/HERF.html
  Led by Haitians who now live stateside this grassroots organization has been in the trenches for years doing good work in educating as well as helping to sustain basic and emergency needs of their Haitian brethren and sistren.  If you go there web page you can get a report on what they have been able to do so far with the aid they have received.   "No matter what, we will never give up. Haitians are strong hopeful people. We will rebuild."