HBC poet Florence Haney shares this poem, "Merci, Seigneur", in reflection of the devastation in Haiti. 

"I saw a news report of a young woman, standing in the ruins of Port au Prince, with her arms upraised, her hands in the sky, saying, 'Merci, Seigneur, Merci, Seirgneur' as her sister was being pulled from the ruins. It touched me so, I had to write this poem.  What she said meant, 'Thank You, Lord! Thank You, Lord!' Other French words in the body of the poem - 'Au secours' mean 'Help!', 'Mon enfant'  means 'my child'." -- Florence Haney 

Haiti, 2010

MERCI, SEIGNEUR

by Florence Haney

I hear crying -- a baby crying.

Dust in my eyes - my ears - my throat.

Dust and darkness

In me -- around me,

And still the child cries.

 Helpless myself, I hear that helpless cry.

Again the earth quakes.

Again the building shakes.

Sharp splinters of wood pierce my cheek;

Shifting mounds of stone pin my feet;

Bitter grit grinds into my teeth.

Breathe!  I    can't     breathe!

Au secours!

O my loving Seigneur, where is Your sea-washed air?

Where is Your shining sun?

I hear you, little one.

Help will come, mon enfant.

Above the dark and dust

I hear foreign voices -- excited voices,

"We've found the baby!

"She's alive! Alive!

"Dig!  Dig!

"Hurry, everyone, hurry!

"Lift her out!

"Give her water!  NOW!"

Merci, Seigneur.  Merci, Seigneur.

O Seigneur,

They have found her.

Will they find me?

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This poem is published here by permission of the author.  For permission to reprint, please contact Mrs. Haney through This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it