Last will and testament
By Ariel Dorfman

When they tell you
I’m not a prisoner
don’t believe them.
They’ll have to admit it
some day.
When they tell you
they released me
don’t believe them.
They’ll have to admit
it’s a lie
some day.
When they tell you
I betrayed the party
don’t believe them.
They’ll have to admit
I was loyal
some day.
When they tell you
I’m in France
don’t believe them.
Don’t believe them when they show you
my false I.D.
don’t believe them.
Don’t believe them when they show you
the photo of my body,
don’t believe them.
Don’t believe them when they tell you
the moon is the moon,
if they tell you the moon is the moon,
that this is my voice on tape,
that this is my signature on a confession,
if they say a tree is a tree
don’t believe them,
don’t believe
anything they tell you
anything they swear to
anything they show you,
don’t believe them.
And finally
when
that day
comes
when they ask you
to identify the body
and you see me
and a voice says
we killed him
the poor bastard died
he’s dead,
when they tell you
that I am
completely absolutely definitely
dead

don’t believe them,
don’t believe them,
don’t believe them.

Photo Credits; An internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Naivasha, Kenya. The camp was set up as an aftermath of the post election violence following the disputed elections of December 27th, 2007. 20 months later, these IDPs are yet to return to their homes either from fear of reprisals or poor organization by the government to resettle them.