Miss Lou fearlessy penned
hundreds of poems about
different aspects of Jamaican life. Here we present three poems dealing with Independence and Federation.
Dignity
In 1962, an Independence Celebrations Committee planned an elaborate programme of celebrations for Kingston and local committees echoed the plans in parishes. The singing of the National anthem, "Jamaica Land We Love", was one of the highlights of many a ceremony.
Dear cousin Min, you miss sinting,
You should be ovah yah
Fe see Independence Celebration
Capture Jamaica.
You wan' see how Jamaica people
Rise to de occasion
An destant up demself fe greet
De birt' o' dem new nation!
Not a stone was fling, not a samfie sting,
Not a soul gwan bad an lowrated;
Not a fight bruk out, not a bad-wud shout
As Independence was celebrated.
Concert outa street an lane an park
Wid big-time acks performin',
An we dance outa street
From night till soon o' mornin'.
Fe de whole long mont' o' Augus'
Independence was in prime;
Everyting was Independence ting
Round' Independence time.
Independence pen an pencil,
Cup an saucer, glass an tray;
Down to Independence baby bawn
'Pon Independence Day.
An de Independence light dem
Jus' a-pretty up de night dem
An a-sweeten up de crowd fe
Look an wonder at de sight.
Dere was functions by de tousan'
An we crowd up every one;
From Packy Piece to Macka Town
De behaviour was gran'.
You want see Jane unruly an
Unmannasable gal
Dah-stan up straight an sing out
"Teach us true respek for all!"
Fan lazy bwoy who spen him time
A-kotch up Joe shop-wall,
Serious up him face an' halla
"Stir response to dutys' call!"
Teet' an tongue was all united,
Heart an soul was hans an glove,
fenky-fenky voice gain vigour pon
"Jamaica, land we love".
It was a sight fe cure sore y'eye,
A time fe live fe see
Jamaica Independence
Celebration dignity.
Independence
"Jamaica start smoke pipe, ah hope We got nuff Fackass Rope" (tobacco)
In other words, Jamaica has taken on to herself new responsibility, let's hope we can manage! Independence came to Jamaica on August 6,1962. The true meaning of the new status was not fully grasped by all, but political leaders emphasised hardships to come, the need for work, self-sacrifice, and plenty of training and education (second-to-last
stanza).
Independence wid a vengeance!
Independence raisin' cain!
Jamaica start grow beard, ah hope
We chin can stan' de strain!
Wen dog mawga him head big an Wen puss hungry him nose clean
But every puss an dog noh know
Wat Independence mean.
Matty sey it mean we facety
Stan' up pon we dignity,
An we don't allow nobody
Fe teck libarty wid we.
Independence is we nature
Born an bred in all we do
An she glad fe se dat Govament
Tun independant to.
She hope dem caution worl'-map
Fe stop draw Jamaica small
For de lickle speck can't show
We Independantniss at all!
Morsomever we mus' tell map dat
We don't like we position
Please kindly tek we out o' sea
An draw we in de Ocean.
Wat a crosses! Independence Woulda never have a chance
Wid so much boogooyagga
Dah-expose dem ignorance.
Dog wag him tail fe suit him size
An match him stamina,
Jamaica people need a Independance formula!
No easy-come by freeniss tings,
Nuff labour, some privation,
Not much of dis an less of dat
An plenty studiration.
Independance wid a vengeance,
Wonder how we gwine to cope,
Jamaica start smoke pipe, ah hope
We got nuff Jackass Rope!
Dear departed Federation
In 1960 the Jamaica Labour Party declared against Federation as a matter of policy. The People's National Party Leader - N.W. Manley - who was Premier, decided to put the matter to the electorate in a referendum. The J.L.P. slogan "Jamaica yes, Federation no" won the day and Jamaica opted out of the three-year old West Indies Federation in 1961 to go it alone into Independence. Jamaican anxieties and relief (and even confusion) over the whole affair is well caught in this poem- "...de heap 'o boderation, Eena fe we lickle nation, From de start o' yuh duration, Meck we frighten an frustrate".
Dear Departed Federation,
Referendum murderation
Bounce you eena outa space
Hope you fine a restin place.
Is a heavy blow we gi yuh
An we know de fault noh fe yuh
For we see you operate
Over continent an state.
But de heap o' boderation
Eena fe we lickle nation
From de start o' yuh duration
Meck we frighten an frustrate.
A noh tief meck yuh departed
A noh lie meck yuh departed
But a fearful meck we careful
How we let yuh tru we gate.
Fearful bout de big confusion
Bout de final constitution
An Jamaica contribution
All we spirit aggrivate.
An we memba self-protection
All we ears of preparation!
Referendum Mutilation
Quashie start to contemplate!
Beg yuh pardon Federation
Fe de sudden separation
If we sifferin' survive
We acquaintance might revive.
Dear Departed Federation
Beg you beg dem tarra nation
Who done quarrel and unite
Pray fe po' West Indies plight.
