one sunday mawnin' (one sunday morning)

author's note: this poem is written in the jamaican patois dialect...it is meant to be read aloud.

Lawd, what a stress!
Yuh nuh see 'ow she dress?
Mek she 'affi come 'ere a wear dat?
She nuh know seh in church yuh mus' wear hat?
Pasta shoulda go talk to 'ar
Becaw she look like she a go a rum bar!
She mussi figget seh dis is a place of holiness
Where God's people come fi get bless.
But she look like summ'n weh yuh fin' outside,
No likkle presence, no likkle pride.
And look 'ow she a raise 'ar han' dem suh
Like a she one Jesus die fah!

But wait, mi rememba a time when me woulda bawl like dat
When me nevah care 'bout dress nor hat,
When di ongle ting me coulda do
Is give tanks to God fi all 'Im bring me t'rough.
So hear wha, mek she gwaan praise 'Im, yaw
Becaw God deserve di bes' , 'Im deserve we all!

© soledad evans (2006)