Fetchin' Water
Out 'pon me little daughter,
Whenever fe her tu'n to cook
Or fetch a pan of water:
De sight look gay;
Dat is one way,
But I can tell you say,
'Nuff rock'tone in de sea, yet none
But those 'pon lan' know 'bouten sun.
De pickny comin' up de hill,
Fightin' wid heavy dou'd,
Won't say it sweet him, but he will
Complain about de load:
Him feel de weight,
Dem watch him gait;
It's so som of de great
High people fabour t'ink it sweet
Fe batter in de boilin' heat.
Dat boy wid de karasene pan,
Sulky down to him toe,
His back was rollin' in a san',
For him pa mek him crow:
Him feel it bad,
Near mek him mad,
But teach him he's a lad;
Go disobey him fader wud,
When he knows dat his back would sud!
But Sarah Jane she wus 'an all,
For she t'row 'way de pan,
An' jam her back agains' de wall
Fe fight her mumma Fan:
Feelin' de pinch,
She mek a wrinch
An' get 'way j but de wench
Try fe put shame upon her ma,
Say dat she cook de bittle raw.
Dis water-fetchin' sweet dem though
When day mek up dem min',
An' 'nuff o' dem 'tart out fe go,
An' de weader is fine:
De pan might leak,
Dem don't a 'peak,
Nor eben try fe seek
Some clay or so to mek it soun';
Dem don't care ef dem wet all roun'.
Den all 'bout de road dem 'catter
Marchin' along quite at ease;
Dat time listen to deir chatter,
Talkin' anyt'ing dem please:
Dem don't a fear,
Neider a care,
For who can interfere?
T'ree mile -- five, six tu'n, -- an' neber
W'ary, but could do it for eber.