In jamaica, miss lou taught speech and drama at excelsior high school. Louise bennettcoverley, miss lou, jamaican folklorist, poet, and radio and television personality born sept. Samples of miss lou s poetry are sprinkled throughout the text, which is highlighted by colourful illustrations. The famous jamaican weekly radio show the lou and ranny show had jamaicans including myself. Mi is a born jamaican, an mi proud an yuh fi feel proud to fi walk roun an big up yuh chest an say tanks to miss lou.
This is a poem i wrote for my boyfriend who is incarcerated. A theatrical production, skip to my lou lou, which celebrates the life and work of louise miss lou bennettcoverley in poetry and play, is now on the stage of the historic coke methodist church hall, east parade, kingston. As part of the miss lou 100th anniversary celebrations, the louise bennettcoverley heritage council fla inc. It has been said that the language of a people is among the things that define them and elevate them above the animals. From kingston, jamaica louise bennett remains a household name in jamaica, a living legend and a cultural icon. You can interpret this in a few different ways, but generally it means that sometimes, having plenty isnt all its cracked up to be.
She was buried on august 9, 2006 in the national heroes park, kingston alongside the reinterred remains of her husband. Louise simone bennettcoverley or miss lou, om, oj, mbe 7 september 1919 26 july 2006 was a jamaican poet, folklorist, writer, and educator. Miss lou celebrated in poetry, play at coke methodist. A jamaican poem back to africa i love this poem by the late great louise bennett, also known as miss lou. Louise bennettcoverley jamaica information service. They have always been the highlight of jamaicas folk industry. Patois gained ground against english thanks to woman who. Mary had a little lamb miss mattie li bwoy joe go kick may slap pon har doorway. A cultural icon locally, regionally and internationally, miss lou was one of jamaicas leading comediennes and the only poet who. Below is a picture of the famous louise bennett, gesticulating as she tells a story or recite one of her many poems. May152009 by wellesley gayle hi shann, i will ease your frustration. She received her education from ebenezer and calabar elementary schools, st.
Miss lou s poetry below are some of the poetry and short story collections written by miss lou. Colonization in reverse louise bennett coverley wat a joyful news, miss. Miss lou and mass ran became an inseparable duo in the jamaican theatre and were loved dearly by the jamaican people. This is a wonderful poem, full of insight and ageless wisdom. Me glad fi see yuh come back, bwoy, but lawd, yuh let me dung me shame a yuh so till all a me proudness drop a grung. Bun an cheese by louise bennett coverley dem bwoy dah jeer miss matty, an a mock her an a tease, dem a kill demself wid laugh mah an a call her. Miss lou poems written and performed by louise bennett. Also at the back is a short biographical sketch of miss lou, along with a lovely photo that captures the personality of this influential poet.
Bun and cheese by louise benneth coverley jamaican poem. Anancy stories and dialect verse 1950 jamaican dialect poems 195. The poem bedtime story written by miss lou louise simone bennett coverley om, oj, mbe can be found in her book. Dem bwoy dah jeer miss matty, an a mock her an a tease, dem a kill demself wid laugh mah an a call her bun an cheese. Nov 28, 2017 26 bun and cheese by louise benneth coverley jamaican poem youtube. Some of her coauthors on the collections include rex nettleford, philip sherlock, mervin morris and walter jekyll. I miss you poems describe the feelings of missing the one you love. The poem bedtime story written by miss lou louise simone bennettcoverley om, oj, mbe can be found in her book aunty roachy seh. In a series of humorous poems written at the height of independence euphoria in the early1960s, louise bennett, affectionately known as miss lou, raises some quite serious questions about jamaicas readiness for the rigours of independence. Here are just a few of miss lous poems that you can familiarize yourself with. When she reads the patois aloud, she relishes its caribbean flavour. Why cant i find miss lou s dutty tuff poem on the internet.
All these days and nights without you here, its a little bit more than i can bear. Writing in standard english was the custom in jamaica in the mid20s, but miss lou challenged that and even influenced other caribbean authors and poets such as linton kwesi johnson, mutabaruka. This poem is written in the jamaican patois and deals with miss matties yearning to go back to africa. Please there are recordings of miss lou reciting it herself. Known for writing and performing her poems in what was known as jamaican patois or creole, miss lou was a good resident artiste and a teacher from 1945 to 1946 with the caribbean carnival. Miss lous sweet jamaican patois speaks to a whole new. In several of her poems, miss lou does explore the anxiety about language that still afflicts some of us. The poem relates how a mother sent her 8 kids with ten pounds to buy christmas clothes in downtown, kingston. National poll should miss lou be made a national heroine. Louise miss lou bennettcoverley is the most universally loved personality this nation has ever produced or likely will ever produce, engendering unabashed feelings of pride and affection in jamaicans of all ages. Miss lou part 5 noh lickle twang dry foot bwoy youtube. I love this poem by the late great louise bennett, also known as miss lou. Miss lou, however, was reflecting more on our figurative. Writing and performing her poems in jamaican patois or creole, bennett worked to preserve the practice of presenting poetry, folk songs and stories in patois nation language, establishing the validity of local languages for literary expression.
Simons college, excelsior college, friends college highgate. Louise bennett and the jamaican culture by mervyn morris 7 ratings, 4. Missing boyfriend whos in prison, without you, i miss you. Louise bennett, jamaicas premier language activist, has helped us to acknowledge the value and power of our distinctive jamaican language. The miss lou archives, ms2177 is housed in the special collections at the national library of jamaica. Miss lou storyboard tells story of jamaicas most revered. Instead, the kids bought hula hoops, to the dismay of the mom. Celebrating emancipation, independence with miss lou published. Reflections a walk down memory lane august 6, 2017. Miss lou returned to london in 1950 and again worked at the bbc hosting a onehour show called west indian guest night. Dutty tough poem by louise simone bennett coverly poem. Louise miss lou bennett is the most universally loved personality this nation has ever produced or likely will ever produce, engendering unabashed feelings of pride and affection in jamaicans of all ages, colours, classes and creeds. I absolutely adored and still do, the wonderful lady she was.
For over 50 years, she tirelessly championed jamaican folk customs on stage, radio and television. She quotes miss lou s 1942 poem on a tramcar, included in a likkle miss lou. Just got up with new scholar on my mind thus i decided to start off my day with it. Dah pickinni yah woan go sleep, she waan me tell her rhyme. Bun an cheese by louise bennett coverley excerpt from laugh with louise. Dem bwoy dah jeer miss matty, an a mock her an a tease, dem a kill demself wid laugh mah. She appeared in leading humorous roles in several jamaican. There are lots of unfamiliar vocabulary words, but there is a nice glossary at the back. Me know seh me dah diminish, me know me dah get small, but since me po dog sammy dead, lawd, me cyaan eat noantall. Rainy day by louise bennett poets of the caribbean.
Louise bennettcoverley jamaican folklorist, poet, and. Louise simone bennettcoverley or miss lou, om, oj, mbe 7 september 1919 26 july 2006, was a jamaican poet, folklorist, writer, and educator. Coverley excerpt from laugh with louise dem bwoy dah jeer miss matty, an a. Petition falls flat one, one signature fails to fill miss lou s basket september 7, 2017. Miss lou memorialized in cultural and educational institutions august 6, 2017. If you cant arrange to use one of those, at least let a jamaican read it. When it comes to dialect and taking the jamaican patois to the world, miss louise bennett coverley was perfect for that. Louise bennettdryfoot bwoy extract with lyrics youtube. Lou s poem, hula christmus, which is written in the jamaican dialect. Louise bennett, the legendary jamaican poet and story teller, explains how a good jamaican male proposes.
Louise miss lou bennett was undisputedly the most universally loved personality this nation has ever produced. The last line means that some things are so dirty that even a good rain wont. Writing and performing her poems in what was known as jamaican patois or creole, she was instrumental in having this dialect of the people given literary recognition in its own right. The poem no lickle twang written by miss lou louise simone bennett coverley om, oj, mbe can be found in her book aunty roachy seh. I can remember how i loved to watch miss lou, as she is affectionately called in jamaica, on saturdays doing her tv program, ring ding. As i reflected on the weather, i thought i would share miss lous poem, rainyy day. Next post colonization in reverse louise bennett coverley. The poem new scholar written by miss lou louise simone bennettcoverley om, oj, mbe can be found in her book aunty roachy seh good mahnin, teacher ow is yuh. Celebrating emancipation, independence with miss lou.
For over 50 years as poet, broadcaster, actress, television personality and stage performer she tirelessly championed jamaican folk customs. Writing and performing her poems in jamaican patois, she was instrumental in having this dialect of the people given literary recognition in. She also found time to write poems, folk songs, short stories and perform in plays and pantomimes. Jamaican wisdom dutty tuff poem this is a poem by the late great jamaican poet, hon.
Mckayla mcdonald miss louise bennett poems are very nice i did say this one at my school. The poem no lickle twang written by miss lou louise simone bennettcoverley om, oj, mbe can be found in her book aunty roachy seh. Good morning teacher aka new scholar jamaican poem by. Louise simone bennettcoverley or miss lou was a jamaican poet, folklorist, writer, activist, radio and television personality and educator. Miss lous poetry below are some of the poetry and short story collections written by miss lou. Yuh mean yuh go dah merica an spen six whole mont deh, an come back not a piece better.
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