"Colonial transgressions" ; 18 Dec 2023

COLONIAL TRANSGRESSIONS

(My translation of “DÉRIVES COLONISATRICES”)

 18 December, 2023

(See the background notes appearing separately)

 

Part 1

 

The « MV Wakashio » brought sudden setbacks,

But, a fellow who thought himself brighter

Add’d a few more strokes, with his “superiority”

Of colonialist, of giver of orders to the “colonis’d.”

 

Arriving in haste from his mainland yonder,

Yells the bloke with scorn and disdain,

And with his air of haughtiness :

Let this never happen again HERE !

 

Of such blunders let there be no more,

Neither at Isle de France, nor at Bourbon, warns the sovereign,

In our French territorial waters of the Indian Ocean !

(Add : from Antarctica to Mayotte and Tromelin…)

 

Don’t try to act smart :

We be watching and monitoring everything closely :

Let there be HERE no more sea wastes :

For our “Fournaise,” an exception we make…

 

Alone, you be unable to fend for yourselves :

An accident happens, and you go begging around :

You ask others to help you :

And, you want to grab Tromelin ???..

 

Watch it : in jumping into your lagoons from aircraft,

Making therein great dives,

Know that we have jolly good experience :

Our paratroops be even laughing their heads off !!

 

    * * *

Part 2

 

Ah, Messrs Frenchmen, you were the first to fire…

Even on our soil you come to give us a thrashing…

So be it, our air force only has two poor Dorniers :

But, our progress hath no match in your occupied lands…

 

While you keep others under a colonial yoke,

We be ourselves for the world a shining lantern :

A brilliant success hath been our independence,

While domination remains your science.

 

In half a century we have shown the world

Our resourcefulness, our profound capabilities;

Whether it pleases you or not, we be not spoon-fed :

We shout it out aloud for entire humanity.

 

In half a century what we have achiev’d,

Did you do it during the same colonial period,

When you strutt’d here as intrepid masters ??

It behoves you well to dismiss all this as rubbish…

 

Though we should improve our marine defence,

This be not a reason to dump diplomacy;

Knowing that your post rhymes with discretion,

In public you ought to have spar’d the other party…

 

You be worried about the safety of the nearby shores :

Fair enough : but, from there, to clumsy words

Risks to mess up our relations :

By virtue of your position, one deplores such blunders…

 

This be what one calls whipping up flicking hell…

We be not fool’d : ‘tis contrary to diplomacy :

For his part, the poet will unleash himself all the more :

‘Tis his job, his mission ---  damn’d or bless’d…

 

                                                               * * *

Part 3

 

So be it : the Coastguards ought to have deploy’d decisively :

With the enemy, our nearby guys would have been wip’d out :

In the blink of an eye, everybody he would have gunn’d down :

Let’s change for the better : that be our earnest wish…

 

Let’s become the Singapore of the southern seas :

Let’s no more go about it with kids’ gloves :

Let’s take example on those unforgiving sharks :

Or, we will continue to suffer the consequences.

 

Besides, a landing strip had we suggest’d

Near the military barracks, for immediate responses :

We spoke of improving the group of paratroops :

In military matters, there must be more realistic set-ups.

 

There be no heavy seas that can matter :

One must deploy resolutely, whatever it takes :

At any moment choppers must be available :

For serve defence better, everything must be possible.

 

We must tell ourselves : everyday it must be as at war :

The ship ought to have been arrest’d immediately;

At last let’s learn the lessons in the matter :

Let’s act now, so that these words don’t fall flat.

 

We have exhort’d the making of coastal landing strips,

At the four corners, at suitable spots, for military responses;

Night and day decisive military deployment must take place :

Let not our exhortations, our sayings, go with the wind…

 

 

    * * *

Part 4

 

Oh, how the help you bring us, Sir, hath a bitter taste…

Ah, a much better flavour hath this blackish sea water…

Since your clumsy words be so vicious,

Know that from your cutting stance have arisen these verses…

 

We are not to be fool’d : we see clearly through it :

We know the true reason of your speedy visit :

In truth, what matters to you be your occupied land :

This nearby land that you colonise as a big trophy…

 

Sir, according to the rules of protocol,

Just a minister ought to have receiv’d you;

Ah, ill took us for having ignor’d the norms :

You have quite mess’d up diplomacy…

 

The stupid chats your advisers have dish’d out

Only could have come from fail’d staff;

They be clearly cut off from reality :

These verses will tell them they were mistaken.

 

A foreign “dignitary” giving thus to an independent country

Orders on the spot --- how unfortunate that be…

Hath no-one seen in this a diplomatic incident ?...

Where hath flick’d off old diplomacy, in this mess ?...

 

‘Tis clear that the fail’d ones saw nothing coming :

The ultimate experience they think they wield

In “checkmating” “small” independent countries :

Vainly, therefore, would they have pretend’d to be clever…

 

    * * *

Part 5

 

You take us for a bunch of retard’d guys ?

Since you have thus admonish’d us,

Know, Sir, that we pay attention to what goes on

In the nearby land, in the neighbouring bastion.

 

“Bi-départementalisation” ?  Why stop in such a good path ?

Do it to your heart’s content : ‘tis known, you be clever :

Perhaps not robbers : clever : carve up, therefore, the colony

To give the whole population foolery, amnesia…

 

"Bi-départementalisation" ?  Why just in the neighbourhood ?

To do it in the mainland be there no need ?

Go on ! Lightly create hundreds of “départements” :

One will surely find for this millions of fans…

 

You want’d to carve up the island into two “départements,”

For reasons that defy all logic;

Yes, divide so as to dominate better :

With tricks, your secret strategies be overflowing…

 

The supreme charmer in person was sent yonder :

He did it splendidly : the goodly people were impress’d :

No-one saw the heinous attempt at sabotage :

Hoodwink’d, everyone was as in heaven…

 

No-one smell’d out the secret coup de Jarnac :

They were amaz’d with the lord coming from Mérignac,

Who was muttering innocently : “What the people want…”

All around, folks were queuing up to meet him…

 

    * * *

Part 6

Say, could this small mountainous country survive

By depriving it thus perfidiously of its livelihood ?

What be on this your secret logic ?

Hegemony, unspeakable, strategic objectives ?...

 

A colony of some 2 512 square kilometres

Secretly you want’d to chop into half ;

Besides, the second airport was made on purpose :

Your military forces be quite delight’d with it…

 

And then, for each mini “département,”

Its own little airport, isn’t it ?...

Thus, everyone will be happy :

Go on, then, carve up, in this case…

 

An island poor in resources, of a small area,

Secretly identified for some colonial dislocation,

In the name of some perfidious, secret hegemony,

While was asleep the unsuspecting population…

 

Go and carve up also in the mainland, all around !

Here : start with the huge Gironde,

With its sprawling 10 000 square kilometres :

With joy, Sirs, “multi-départementalisez !! »

 

"Bi-départementalisation" ?  That will be the day !

We smell from here this trap…

‘Tis the run-up to Mayotisation,

The perfidious follow-up on colonisation…

 

Your cynical attempt in secret to carve up

End’d up well, as it deserv’d, in a stinking mess :

Your legislators in the year 2000 were more realistic :

A stinging defeat the Senate inflict’d upon your carving…

 

   * * *

Part 7

For the little that you offer us, haughtily you lecture :

Since you be mistaken about the century, here, catch this blow…

You think that against us you can strike easily :

This will cost you dearly, for you be indulging in excesses.

 

Much more the Indians, the Russians, humbly bring us :

They don’t brag about it : they plod on from morn till evening;

You yourselves come here to threaten us, with your dark motives :

You fear what these blackish tides might carry…

 

Well, we will shed some ballast :

We will tell the blackish tides

Not to go especially south-west :

Your colonial interests should be protect’d.

 

These black tides must not spread the muck,

For “your” coastal rocks be enough black…

Since you be such a discreet moraliser,

One must please you entirely.

 

Speaking about coastal regions, well,

Moderate a bit your cutting outbursts :

As bloodied steaks to the voracious sharks

Did not fall your paratroops…

 

On an air of Blue Bayou, in our secur’d Blue Bay,

In a well-concoct’d blow, you had air-dropp’d yourselves;

These secure waters, our hospitality, your “coup fourré” :

As usual with you lot, all this belongs to the distant past…

 

Say, after getting experience in jumping

Into our calm lagoon, free of bloodthirsty sharks,

Where will jump again your experienc’d paratroops ?

Near the black coastal rocks, amid the raging sharks ??...

 

     * * *

 Part 8

Yes, « your » waters also surround Tromelin :

They bathe also Mayotte night and day :

The ships of your Navy watch closely :

Woe be to him that wants to act clever…

 

We take note of the orders of your Ministry :

No, your Lands don’t End at Finisterre :

“Your” waters be also Antarctic, colonial, southern :

You hold the secret of these majestic proclamations…

 

At Finisterre, your lands do not end :

At Land’s End, your Lands do not End :

For you will fight unto death

So that your lands be infinite…

 

From Paris you had shunt’d out here speedily,

To apply the orders of the Ministry of Land-grabs,

Of Colonies, of Occupied Lands, Conquer’d Lands :

You lecture haughtily to an independent country…

 

But, these verses cook’d up in your language

Will make rage rise up, will be sayings

That will scold, haunt day and night :

Against this poetry, go and find some shelter…

 

In truth, the likes of you will give us fitting retribution,

For, to these verses one should expect a rampaging reaction;

And, in poetry will rise your thunderous counter-attacks :

Well must we await spectacular counter-blows…

 

   * * *

Part 9

In conspiracy with your guys in the mainland,

You come to reproach us for this wreck :

You come to pronounce pompous sermons :

Well, know that we be not under your dominion…

 

Here : do you remember the 16 March, 1978, Commander ?...

The “Amoco Cadiz” ? Some 219 797 tons of fuel ?...

Near Ouessant, at some 30 kilometres from Le Conquet ?...

To say the least, ‘twas a rather big bathtub…

 

Do you remember the 15 March, 2019, Sirs, Ladies ?

Don’t you remember any more this infamous accident ?

The ship “Grande America” sank in the Gulf of Gascoigne :

On this your guys did not chat of some dirty job…

 

Don’t you remember that Italian ship ?

About that your memory clearly sees no link :

Many shipwrecks escape from your memory :

Only here do you find the black tides filthy…

 

At 300 kilometres from La Rochelle,

Near beaches said to be splendid,

A ship of some 214 metres long, Sir,

Sunk at a depth of 4 600 metres…

 

Some 2 200 tons of heavy oil, Sir :

And some 2 000 vehicles :

And some 365 containers :

Were your reproaches about it harsh ?...

 

Some 100 tons of hydrochloric acid,

Some 70 tons of sulphuric acid …

The 27 crew were evacuat’d :

Luckily, there were no casualties.

 

The wreck was called problematic :

“Wakashio,” for its part, be catastrophic…

Yonder, ‘twas fear’d for French beaches :

Remember these tales, whether it pleases you or not…

 

Also remember, our loud verses yell out,

In October 2018, near the beach of Pampelonne,

Of that accident between two ships near Ramatuelle :

Oh, yes, our tales will remind you all the better…

 

Also remember, in December 2011, of the “TK Bremen,”

That left unpalatable bills up to Erdeven :

They also know a thing or three about this at Ria d’Etel :

Yes, these few verses will be a reminder…

 

Besides, do you remember the 18 March, 1967, Sir ?

Does not the “Torrey Canyon” give you any more tremors ?

That accident near the Scilly Isles, near the English coasts :

From 94 to 164 million litres of oil spill’d. Bloody rubbish ??...

 

More than 80 kilometres of French coasts pollut’d :

Thousands of sea birds suffocat’d, exterminat’d :

What warning did you then give to the English ?

Let these words in your mind always remain fresh…

 

   * * *

Part 10

 

Let’s see : an oil tanker be wreck’d between England and France,

And the black tides risk damaging both sea fronts :

An English Minister dashes to your land to reprimand you :

In this would you not have seen “outrecuidance” and transgressions ?...

 

Against such accidents he warns you :

“Let not such nonsense occur again HERE,”

He yells, “nor near English coasts, by mishap :

Remember Waterloo : and don’t make us madder !”

 

There, Sir, don’t pick up fights with us hereabouts,

For, know that poetry can be like Trafalgar…

Don’t mistake any more of a “small” country :

In all nooks and corners will these verses be read…

 

   * * *

 

Part 11

 

From the « Wakashio, » of some 4 000 tons of oil,

More than 3 000 tons, with our limit’d means, have we recover’d :

Forgive us, Sir, in the circumstances, for our mediocrity :

Elsewhere, towards those guilty, your guys were rather severe…

 

In « your » occupied lands where resound the tom-tom,

In the far-flung “regions,” colonies, can they do as we do it ?

Foreign help or not, we keep our heads high :

So be it, in one way or another, we will make it.

 

Of the « Wakashio, » before the rigorously-done scuttling

Publicly-shown footage

Indicat’d hulls carefully clean’d,

Up to the chains, after our amateurish ways…

 

Before the wreck was scuttl’d,

‘Twas meticulously examin’d ;

One had even test’d for radioactivity :

Surely was it done that way in faraway lands…

 

How was it about wrecks on distant seas ?...

Did the accidents there not have a bitter taste ?...

Does it behoove well to sweep all this under the carpet ?...

How it befits you to treat us with disdain…

 

From the air, the “Torrey Canyon” wreck was bomb’d :

Massive bombs upon her were dropp’d :

From the air, incendiary products were rain’d down :

The oils floating on the sea were set on fire.

 

One barely bother’d about the environment at that time :

Done by “experts,” everything was found to be well carried out;

About damages at that time to the environment

One did not find loquacious lecturers…

 

    * * *

Part 12

 

Know that we will prevent marine wrecks

On this ocean, in these waters, in this neighbourhood,

When the dirtying outbursts of your volcano

Will no longer soil the Indian Ocean in fiery flows…

 

Anyway, at something misfortune be good :

Of the colony, the lava increases the area…

There be some good in this, isn’t it, Uncle ?...

Update, therefore, the area in the geography…

 

In all sovereignty, yes, but also unleash’d :

No, not measur’d : as proclaim’d by our orders :

Vain threats we just fling out :

Everywhere our poetry explodes, hath consequences…

 

    * * *

Part 13

The Comorans got a measur’d independence,

For, of their Mayotte, were they unlawfully depriv’d;

The same thing could have happen’d nearby :

Yonder, the folks had better be careful…

 

About consultations, regarding colonies,

The majority be of alterable nature, it appears :

One keeps a bit of the land, the remainder quietly one lets go :

Oh, unfortunate be the countries thus given to carving…

 

By Jove, of sovereignty, ‘tis the neighbouring country,

Whether it pleases you or not, that needs it most…

At the same time, you will save billions :

But… We know full well ‘tis pure utopia…

 

Since you grabb’d Mayotte,

Since you have spread yourselves on Tromelin,

Since you have hook’d up Antarctica,

Renouncing the volcanic country would be wishful thinking…

 

And, what matters if the grammar hath some mistakes,

The retribution, the riposte, be splendidly carried out…

What matters the approximate versification :

Exalting, crunchy be this poetic retribution…

 

 

 

The spelling and grammatical errors will be correct’d :

And, with poetic justice will dictatorships have to reckon;

So be it : in your language, we do as we can :

For, in our writings, ‘tis the English language first.

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