America’s Avenger

Scattered fleets

burnt grain

heeded his calling

“onward!”

Cleared streets

broke chains

amassed a following

“slaughter!”

Any planter

or Frenchman’s partner

expect to be purged or worse

the Prowling Tiger

has made it his mission

to destroy the Blackmen’s Curse

Books and script disavowed for war

blood paints his coat and claws

Emperor for life did him little good

ascent cut short, after all  

—

During Black History Month, this blog will honor people who demonstrated critical elements of the Black / African experience with commemorative poems. This poem pays homage to Haitian Revolutionary Jean-Jacques “the Tiger” Dessallines, first leader of the first independent Black nation. This is the third poem in a month-long series.