Windows to Yesteryear
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Patsy Adams has published another collection of poems on Anguillian themes. This slim volume, Windows to Yesteryear contains poems about Anguilla's history, culture, and sea, and was produced in conjunction with the National Trust. Here is one of Patsy's poems from her new book:

Rum Jumbee

John Boy walkin in de night all alone
Stop and look cause he hear a soft moan.

Saw a baby jumbee sittin near a tree
He say, "John Boy come and keep me company.

Long, long ago, there was thousans of us
now eletric lights come an we are dispussed.

We had excellent times in de buryin grung
Because in dat place no human hang arung.

We used to trick ya parents upon de tird day
After their loved one had passed away.

We would laugh and roar in our ghostly woice
After we see big people running away from us.

We would take funny shapes and make spooky sounds
As soon as the evening sun went dung

We did rule Anguilla from duss till dawn
Then hide in de tamarin trees at morn.

Now me oldfolks dead. Oh cuss de eletric light
Not a jumbee friend nowhere in sight.

Ah beg ya tell ya leaders, whatebber demm do
Dat we is part of de enwirement too.

Who could be so cruwell to stop de fun
Of de boys and girls after set of de sun?

Please tell dem turn off de current real fass
cause I - Rum Jumbee- is one of de lass."

John Boy walkin in de night all alone
No longer afaraid of dat jumbee soft moan.

Note: Jumbees (spirits) and rum jumbees (pedestrian alcoholics) are now seldom heard or seen in Anguilla.

Written January 28th,1998. Copyright 1998. Patricia Adams.

In Patsy's other volume of poetry, A Jewel Made of Sand, there is a very entertaining poem entitled Aint Want De Goats No Mo'.

 Revised: October 14, 1998

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