WATCH DE OL’ MAN


Wunna tink ol’ man ain’t special like he don’t got stars in he back pocket, too
Like he can’t move like dese young boys fresh blood hot and boiling in dey veins
But wunna fuhget who ol’ man be. He like mahogany unda all dat ragged bark is strength

Ol’ man been ’round long and he understands tings
Like when young boy doing he back flips and double back somersaults
Ol’ man can look and say, “Look boy, hold de tuck! Hold de tuck!”
If young boy listen, ehvating done up, ’cause ol’ man know tings
He been ’round long before dese young men cut teet skinning cuffins
And he knows de history, de struggle
He remembers when it was just he and de fellas flipping in de ocean
Waves laughin laughin at each lopsided flip, but catching dem safe each time dey land
Ol’ man knows Shaggy Bear ain’t just supposed to shake and dance
Like dandelion caught in de wind
Shaggy Bear supposed ta tumble tumble, so when ya watching, ya belly flip flopping
Even when ol’ man get hurt, or he bones feeling lil stiff
He ain’t done, ya know. He still teaching young folks how to swallow dey fear 
And kiss de heavens and de earth wid each somersault

Lord, I doan know wuh young people would do widout ol’ folks?
But, nowadays, ol’ is out and young ting is in. Keep de young ting. Keep de young ting.
But doan fuhget dat ol’ ting got wisdom and can teach. Mekking young ting even betta
Much much betta. But doan tek my word. Watch de ol’ man, watch de ol’ man 
Watch de ol’ man tumble (tumble!) Watch de ol’ man tumble, watch de ol’ man tumble 
Watch de ol’ man tumble (tumble!) Watch de ol’ man tumble (tumble!)

 

Barbadian writer and poet Kelly “Phoenix” Chase believes writing is a blessing. She also calls it a gift that she loves sharing. She has performed, and had her work published, in Barbados, America and Australia.