Dey’s Gold in de La-Sew-Fray

Before ah start, no, before ah forget, Ah want to ask ah fair-for of NEMO’s Director, Me-shell Forbes, when all de dust is settled. She must change dat name “NEMO” to ah more meaningful NTT. In Oromo language “NEMO” means “De Man” dat is like telling “De Man” to Man-handle NEMO.

And in Latin “NEMO” means “Nobody.” Dat might explain why all-body running dey mouth pon No-body oops NEMO. Nuff said.

LESS GO FOH GOLD

Ah was telling Lie-Za ah lickle Non-cents story: How many years ago when ah was in Second Form at Grammar School, Carl Glasgow (now deceased, ah fellow student, out ah Georgetown) brought to school a clump-ah-Gold dat he had found at de Rabacca River-bed possibly ejected from de La-Sew-Fray. It was de size of a Ping Pong ball, metallic luster (re) shining brass-yellow in colour, like de peace-ah-gold Minister Gomry Daniel found. Nobody could ah tell us dat it was not Gold, except of course Mr. Smith our Chemistry Master, fresh out ah Jah-mek-her. We couldn’t wait foh de next Chemistry class, we blocked Mr Smith heading to ah class. He took us outside in de Sun. “Wow!” we exclaimed as our Gold glittered in de Sun. De way Mr Smith smiled, we knew was bad news. “Now Boys remember, all dat glitters is not Gold eh,” he said. In dah short time, ah lot ah other students had surrounded Smithy. Carefully he explained dat what Carl and now Gomry had found, was/is technically known a Pyrite, an inorganic compound containing, Hydrogen, Sulfur and one or more elements. His down to earth explanation was dat ah Pyrite is ah conglomerate that is comprised of different and distinct organ-is-him of de earth grouped together; like ah Fruit Cake with different ingredients like Flour, raisins, cherries, egg, baking powder etc. “ Is it Real Gold sir?” asked Carl, “Real in a sense,” Mr Smith said, “but it’s called Fools Gold!”

Wid shock and disbelief spread all over her face, Lie-Za asked: “So what happen to de Gold?” Den she expressed how sorry she was for Gomry, asking me “what do Us think?” Two thoughts surfaced. When all dem Red Zone Evacuees who say dey “Nar go back ah Suffrey” hear dat Gomry find Gold up ah Sand Bay , dey bound to change dey mind. Or, maybe he started to calculate how his low-value parcel of Adgy-culture estate land, foh which he got so much lix in Par-liar-mint, is now ah Gold Mine worth millions. Ah told her wid all respect, Gomry is ah qualified Adgy-cultural Officer who studied Soils and Rock formation, he should know about Fools Gold; but is how he go look, say he discover Fools Gold at de end ah April, All Fools Month.

AH SONG FOH DE OCCASION

Church full last Sunday where ah was greeted by three families, about 12 persons, adults and children from Sandy Bay, now sheltering in homes within de sub-urbs of Kingstown. Dey were like ah whole Assembly by dem-selves, Guitar, Tambourine and nice voices, Garifuna people could sing. During de Sharing and Testimonies Time, it was like ah Reality Check foh all present when Bro. Emmanuel May, ah young, competent guitarist, accompanied his wife who has ah beautiful, strong voice, rendered her version of de song: ‘Thank You Lord For your Blessings On Me’. This particular song usually pulls de congregation into singing along wid de artiste sometimes with emotions, but when de dear Sister May started Verse 3, is like de Holy Spirit took control of her singing, and she shifted into ah Glossolalia (speaking in tongues), dat brought many to tears. Is like James Russell, de songwriter was thinking about SVG 2021, when our Volcano stripped bare de northern half of de Island, sending thousand ah people scrambling foh shelter. Think ah should end wid de lyrics of de Song:

“While the world looks upon me as I struggle along; They say I’ve got nothing, but they are so wrong. In my heart I’m rejoicing, How I wish they could see. Thank you Lord for your blessing on me!

Verse 2: There’s a roof up above me; I’ve a good place to sleep; There’s food on my table, and shoes on my feet; You gave me your love Lord, and a fine family, Thank you Lord For your blessings on me!

Verse 3: I know I’m not wealthy, these clothes, they’re not new; I don’t have much money, but Lord I have you, and that’s all that matters, though the world may not see. Thank you Lord for your blessings on me! Thank you Lord for your Blessings on me!”

And wid dat is gone ah gone again.
One Love Bassy