The Song of the Banana Man

Kade kicked like mad whenever I read this to him. He seemed to have liked it. I am sure many of you will remember this poem and smile as childhood memories of reading or reciting it come back to you.

Enjoy...

__________________________________________________________

The Song of the Banana Man by Evan Jones.

Touris, white man, wipin his face,

Met me in Golden Grove market place.

He looked at m'ol' clothes brown wid stain ,

AN soaked right through wid de Portlan rain,

He cas his eye, turn up his nose,

He says, 'You're a beggar man, I suppose?'

He says, 'Boy, get some occupation,

Be of some value to your nation.'

I said, 'By God and dis big right han

You mus recognize a banana man.

'Up in de hills, where de streams are cool,

An mullet an janga swim in de pool,

I have ten acres of mountain side,

An a dainty-foot donkey dat I ride,

Four Gros Michel, an four Lacatan,

Some coconut trees, and some hills of yam,

An I pasture on dat very same lan

Five she-goats an a big black ram,

Dat, by God an dis big right han

Is de property of a banana man.

'I leave m'yard early-mornin time

An set m'foot to de mountain climb,

I ben m'back to de hot-sun toil,

An m'cutlass rings on de stony soil,

Ploughin an weedin, diggin an plantin

Till Massa Sun drop back o John Crow mountain,

Den home again in cool evenin time,

Perhaps whistling dis likkle rhyme,

(Sung)Praise God an m'big right han

I will live an die a banana man.