A matter of diction

While helping my sixth grader research Guyana for a major research project on a South American country, not of his choosing, we came across this delicious verse.  Uses a little different language than Shakespeare, but says pretty much the same thing.  Love in lyrics that even a sixth grade boy can understand and appreciate:

How Do I Love Thee - West Indian Style



You are the essence in my mauby
De fish in my fishcakes
I love you love you dearly
You are the lard oil in my bakes
You are the coconut in my sweetbread
De pigtail in my rice
Just like piece of curry goat head
I will love you till I dead.


You are the sardine in my gravy
The dumplings in my soup
I love you more than mi belly
Yes I love you bad fah true.


Like banana leaf around my conkie
I'll be always close to you
Sweet like sugar in your bush tea
I'll do anything for you.




You are the sauce around my Cou Cou
Hot like sweetbread when it done
I will stick to you like dandruff
Like the corns upon your toes
Like the fat around your belly
I'll be everywhere you goes


Cause you are my black pudding
And I know I am your souse
When you call I will come running
Like when a boar cat see a mouse.


Oh my pepper on my pork chop
Sweet like sorrel when it mix
When my hands caress your body
You feel just like a couple-six.


You are sweeter than a snowcone
I will give you all I own
You are sweeter than a hambone
Soft and sweet like piece'o'pone.
No one can take me from you
Not in this life or death
My Panya girl I love you
It's just your mudda me cant tek.


(Just so you know, I have no complaints with my mudda-in-law. I'm blessed in that department.) I know a place to get fishcakes and hambone with mi esposo when he gets home...