La Cienaga, Dominican Republic (Hilda Castillo) From Aleph 4
Doh stop de music
Let de banjo play
Beat de tamboo until it cry (drum)
Give my old bones a chance to dance
one more time to yesterday’s tunes
Sing chantwel of the days of old (female singer)
Sing of the sweetness…the sweetness of life
When children their parents did obey
when youngsters threw fists
instead of reaching for guns
Sing chantwel, sing it I say
Sing of those days…those days of old
When for a good time all you needed was friends
A good night of krik krak (call and response to Creole folk tale)
a good game of mamou poul
right under the Julie mango tree
did the soul just fine
Sing chantwel, sing it again
Sing of those days
oh those beautiful days
when fiksyon and bush tea (home made ointment)
put doctors to shame
when walking miles to fetch water
invited conversations and built community
Chantwel, don’t you stop singing I say
of the days when there was lanmou in marriage (romantic love)
not Irene today and Lucy tomorrow
Not show me the money or kiss me goodbye
Sing, Sing, Sing
Sing that beautiful song
Let me feel it once more
river water kissing my toes
and the cocoa tree’s shadow
hand in hand with the light of the flambeau (torch)
as the crayfish gets away in the stillness of the night
Chante chantwel; chante…chante (Sing!)
of the taste of roast breadfruit, saltfish and oil
all washed down with some dlo coco (coconut water)
Organic to taste, organic to quality
Sing…sing…sing..sing it chantwel…
sing of those days when fair Helen was blessed
Sing not of tomorrow
don’t you sing that song
sing of today for we live for today
our young bones
tap tapping to the beat of the dancehall
Kissing each moment for it may be our last
No fears…No worries…
Can’t you sing about that?
We live by the sword and we die by the sword
Don’t sing that sad tune of the days of old
when the sun was witness
to old backs toiling all day
Chantwel, change that tune
to a song of today
when liming and theatres (hanging out)
is our idea of a date
no time for a gyal
who wants to act like a lady
Sometimes it is best when we just keep it moving
Sing chantwel…sing my song…
Sing of creations
creations by man
sing of machines that
better our lives
and put our brains to rest
Sing…Sing…Sing…Chantwel
Sing of those…those days…those days…
those days when bliss caressed the soul
—Lervan Atticot (Johnny)
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