Joan Andrea Hutchinson pays tribute to Miss Lou |
Writer and actress Joan Andrea Hutchinson has over the years captured the essence of Louise Bennett through the writing and performance of her own work, as well as an unapologetic level of honour and respect for the late folklorist.
In an interview, Hutchinson was asked about the constant comparisons, she responded, "It is more than a compliment, it is an honour, but I cannot dream of filling Miss Lou's shoes. I recall hearing her being interviewed on the radio once and she was asked if she had seen anyone who could take over from her and she said 'yes, the lickle Hutchinson chile.' What more could I ask for?"
To make permanent her respect for Miss Lou, Hutchinson penned Tenky Miss Lou.
Mi a born Jamaican an mi proud
and yuh fi feel proud to
fi walk roun an big up yuh chest and seh thanks to Miss Lou
When she did start, she neva know
a how it would a go
An nuff nuff people when dah laugh and a call har poppyshow
But she galang strong and stick it out
for she know seh she did right
Inna har belly bottom she did know one day
dem woulda haffi see di light
Anytime trouble tek we
a Miss Lou wen put we good name pon di map
and wen da push Jamaica heritage
an Lawd, she wouldn't stop
She seh "Tek kin teet kibba heart bun
when times neva suh sweet
Good luck will come as long as fowl
a cratch up dungle heap"
Nuff a dem did tink she crazy
and nuff mek up dem face
How she did a chat dis boogooyaga patwa
all ova de place
For dem wen tink patwa was bad English
Dem neva know, poor ting
Dem wouldn't tell Nancy story
and folksong dem wouldn't sing
But a de jackass wid him long tail
Bag a coco comin down
and de peel head jan cro pon tree top
jus mek dem head spin roun
An lickle by lickle dem start fi back her
start fi fan her flame
and see deh after fifty year
Miss Lou a one household name.
Dem a mek flim, dem a write book
dem a sing hol heap a song
an a seh " Patwa is a good language"
But you wen know dat all along
So now we tan up proud fi be Jamaican
An we want whole worl' fi hear
Miss Lou, nuff thanks
For howdy and tenky neva bruck no square.
Powered by !JoomlaComment 3.26
3.26 Copyright (C) 2008 Compojoom.com / Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved." |