Caribbean Poetry- Grace Nichols (part 1)

Grace Nichols is one of my favourite poets and she is a Guyanese-native. in this post I intend to share one of my favourite poems from her collection, Sun time Snow time.

This poem is a candid reflection of a Guyanese rite of passage that all children go through. It was a very nostalgic work for me. N.B- 'Jumbie' is a Guyanese word for 'ghost'.

I Like to Stay Up

I like to stay up
and listen
when big people talking
jumbie stories

I does feel
so tingly and excited
inside me

But when my mother say
'Girl, time for bed'

Then is when
I does feel a dread

Then is when
I does jump in me bed

Then is when
I does cover up
from me feet to me head

Then is when
I does wish I didn't listen
to no stupid jumbie story

Then is when
I does wish I did read
me book instead

 N.B- 'Jumbie' is a Guyanese word for 'ghost'.