One mustn’t confuse the day and the night;
Nor even the fingers
Which are distinguished by their breadth and height.
Neither use of your language
Nor uniform
Bestows power, or birth, or character
On the son of a slave.
You have abolished slavery
Just to subjugate us
To the offspring of our captives.
Commander,
I am the son of my father
Who died in that prison.
France, they say, is justice.
But they see us without eyes,
Through the eyes of others
Billahi! seven times Billahi!
Drive from your service
Those tailless dogs!
Listen to those who do not love you
But whose word is invulnerable
As the centenarian caïlcedrat
Of Salde.
You will have the truth.
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