soun de abeng fi nanny
Nanny siddung pon a rack
a plan a new attack
puffin pon a red clay pipe
an de campfire
staat to sing
wile hog a spit grease
pon machete crease
sharp as fire release
an er yeye roam crass
ebery mountain ppass
an er yeas well tune to de win'
an de cricket an de treefrog
crackle telegram
an she wet er battam lip fi decode
an de people gadda roun
tune een to er soun
wid a richness dat aboun
she wear dem crown
pon er natty platty atless head
an ebery smoke fram er pipe
is a signal fi de fight
an de people dem a sing
mek de cockpit ring
an de chant jus a rise, jus a rise
to de skies
wid de fervour of freedom
dat bus up chain
dat stap de ceaseless itching
of de sugar cane
We sey wi nah tun back
we a bus a new track
dutty tough
but is enuff
fi a bite
fi wi fight
an ebery shake of a leaf
mek dem quiver
mek dem shiver
fa dem lose dem night sight
an de daylight too bright
an we movin like de creatures of de wile
we movin in a single file
fa dis a fi we fightin style
an de message reach crass
ebery mountain pass
we sey wi nah tun back
we a bus a new track
dutty tuff
but is enuff
fi a bite
fi wi fight
life well haad
mongs de wattle an de daub
eben de dankey
a hiccup
in im stirrup
for de carrot laas it class
so nuh mek no one come faas
eena wi business
dis a fi we lan
a yah we mek wi stan
mongs de tuff dutty gritty
dis yah eart nah show no pity
less yuh
falla fashion
home een like pigeon
an wear dem number like de beas
but wen yuh see er savage pride
yuh haffi realise
dat
wi nah tun back
wi a bus a new track
dutty tuff
but is enuff
fi a bite
fi wi fight
dutty tuff
but is enuff
is enuff
so mek wi soun de abeng
fi Nanny
from Riddym Ravings and Other Poems, 1988
(45)
