The Poor Man’s Life

translated by Jack Hirschman and Boadiba

The poor man’s life
doesn’t walk on crêpe soles
if the earth is round
it’s no big deal
Money doesn’t make a bulge
in the poor man’s pocket
it’s a known fact
every man has 2 feet
every man’s mouth has a slit.

Walking around looking for life
the poor man’s feet lose their creases
Walking around swallowing dust
the poor man’s spit is drying up
He can’t suck on a lollipop,
the poor man’s spit is all dried up.

His eyes don’t close
He moves like clockwork
If we can’t see
how life smiles,
you can say what you want
but in any language
this ain’t called living.

Masons make houses,
they sleep under bridges,
bakers make bread while
their kids go hungry.

Good work, good sweat
doesn’t mean good pay
on this blessed earth,
on this blessed earth.

The top stops up the bottom,
those on the bottom are there to stay.
It’s always been that way
it shouldn’t be that way.

The top stops up the bottom,
you score against us with your hands
you score against us with your feet.
Each time they cheat
it’s our debt for tomorrow. 

Lavi Vye Nèg

Lavi vye nèg
pa mache sou krepsòl
si latè-è-wonn
se pa yon afè
Lachans pa fè boul
lan pòch malere
se bagay koni
Tout òm gen de pye
tout òm gen bouch fann.

Nan mache chèche lavi
pye malere degriji
Nan mache vale pousyè
krache vye nèg fin cheche
Yo pa sa souse piwouli
krache vye nèg fin cheche.

Je pa fèmen
Nèg ap bese leve
Se pou nou pa wè
jan lavi souri
ou mèt di-m sa ou vle
sa pa rele viv
dapre lagramè.

Mason fè kay
li dòmi anba pon
boulanje fè pen
pitit li grangou.
Byen travay, byen swe
pa di byen touche
sou latè beni.
sou latè beni.

Anwo bouche anba
sa k’anba anba nèt
Se konsa sa toujou ye
se konsa sa pa do ye.

Anwo bouche anba
nou pran gòl ak men
nou pran gòl ak pye
Chak koken yo fè
se dèt pou demen.