Postponing the parking
Early in my music life, when I was trying my wings, a major influence was the work of the late Louise Bennett of Jamaica. ‘Miss Lou’, as she was affectionately known, had become a legend in her time for pioneering the use of dialect in her poetry, and she was an inspiration to novice writers of my stripe. Her ability to use dialect, combined with her unique sense of humour, was a perfect model for me. In particular, the fact that she was drawing crowds to see her alone on a stage, reading nothing but her dialect poems, served to encourage me that I was on the right path of aiming my work at Caribbean audiences, singing about the Caribbean and confidently using dialect words and expressions. Miss Lou became known for her humorous barbs at the colonial set then ruling the region, and for her elevation of the power and humour of Jamaican dialect; she was a cultural beacon. I have mentioned her before, but she came to mind again recently with the various contortions we have been seeing in society here, and so today, with a bow to the lady, here is an example of what Louise Bennett might have had to say about Guyana if she were living here today.
Postponement
Dis word dem call “postponement” Lawd it full o’ tricks Lawyers use it all de while When dem in a fix.
Chief Justice in Guyana When him don’t know wha’ fe say Him stand up, bang de gavel An’ seh “Court postpone today.”
Sugrim pon him wedding night Him wife started fuh moan She seh, “Darling is migraine time Honeymoon postpone.”
Sugrim seh, “Mi understand Migrane headache does bun But de cash mi give you every month Postponed till headache done.” Politician you s’posed to meet He office ‘pon de phone “De meeting you supposed to have? Sorry, um postpone.”
“Why de meeting put off?” Mi ask her if she knew She said, “Sir, de meeting postpone An’ de reason postpone, too.”
You know Big George in Vreed-en-Hoop Him get on very rough Him beat him wife like cake mix Nuff tumble ʼbout and cuff
She father hear de story Blood fly up inna him head Him squeeze George by him neckbone Like when yuh kneadin’ bread
George wife bawl an’ beg fe him She father seh “All right.” Him tell George, “Bwoy, de cut tail Postpone till Friday night.”
You see this word real powerful It cover plenty sore It even cover permission To build a koker door It cover when a millionaire Try fuh buy a church De congregation congregate And lef’ him in de lurch
Mi hear him lawyer call him And tell him pon de phone “Yuh know dat church yuh wan fe buy? Yuh money get postpone.”
De parking meter nonsense Dey best postpone that quick People stop coming into town Shopping in Crabwood Crick
A fella say de parking rate “Is madness brother man To pay de parking meter I have to sell me house and land.”
A man tell me to meet de cost To park in town, was murder He had to strip and pawn he clothes And drive home in he bukta
A chap I know named Fred Lindo He live in Vergenoogen To pay to park his brother send him US cash from foreign
So tek me stupid advice bro Tings in Guyana dread De mortgage runnin overdue Yuh wife run off wid Fred
When yuh finish pay fuh park Yuh can’t buy bread and cheese Raise yuh hand and beg “Dear Lawd, Postpone tomorrow, please.”