New Scholar by Louise Bennett-Coverly

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Good mahnin, Teacher — ow is yuh?

My name is Sarah Pool.

Dis is fi-me li bwoy Michal

An me just bring him a school.

Him bawn one rainy day, ma'am, it

Was comin awn to night —

Ugly baby grow pretty fi true,

For dis one was a sight.

Him bawn de week when Rufus

Jack-fruit tree did start fi bear,

Is dat same mont Oby pig dead

— But me figat de year.

We call him Mi, Mike, Mikey,

Jay, Jakey, Jacob, Jack,

But him right name is Michal Jaco'b

Alexander Black.

No treat him rough, yaw, Teacher;

Him is a sickly chile:

As yuh touch him hard him meck nize'

Some people seh him pwile.

Teck time wid him yaw teacher-

If him rude an start fi rave

Dis beat annoder bwoy , an him

Wi frighten an behave.

For nuff time when him rude a yard

An woan hear at all

Ah jus beat de bed-poas hard, mah,

An yu waan fi hear Jack bawl!

Now dat yuh know hi, lickle ways

Ah not havin no fear

Dat anyting wi mel him, so

Ah lef him in yu care.