Carnival Stray

Althea Romeo-Mark

Broddah!
hit he in he y’ eye
hit he in he y’ eye
if he y’ eye bus’ up
me nar goin’ cry
me nar goin’ cry
mash he on he toes
blood-up he nose
he too two-timing
broddah
too two-timing
bruk up he finger
le’ de pain linger
le’ de pain linger
will serve him right
will serve him right
ah see him
in de carnival
dancin’ up ‘pon Rose
whinin’ on she batty
playin’ wit’ she natty
hol’ in’ up she hip
dippin’ when she dip
he dere in he little worl’
on a half pint trip
shakin’ to de rum
shakin’ to de drum
ah never see a man
so brazen an’ bol’
he forget how he ol’
dancin’ to de steelband
twistin’ up he waist
can hardly keep de pace
can hardly keep de pace
stare me in me y’eye
dry face, fresh face
ah feel ah goin’ die
ah feel ah goin’ die
bu’ me nar goin’ cry
me nar goin’ cry
kick he in he bum
broddah
knock out de rum
leave he in de trash heap
le’ Rose come
le’ she come fine he
see how ol’ he be
she nar goin’ wan’ him
she nar goin’ wan’ him
when she see he in de sun
not dat ol’ two-timing bum
chuck he on de side
broddah,
chuck he on de side
ah got me pride
broddah
ah got
me pride

Copyright © Althea Romeo-Mark