I wrote this poem many years ago before these frequent occurrences of Cat 5 hurricanes.
"Tropic Hurricane" - Bahamas AI art
©A. Derek Catalano
Anudder Hurricane Comin’
Anudder hurricane comin,
I can't take no more.
Gatta battin-up ma windas agin,
An' lock-down tight ma door.
In dese crazy las' days,
Anudder hurricane comin,
I can't take no more.
Gatta battin-up ma windas agin,
An' lock-down tight ma door.
In dese crazy las' days,
Hurricanes comin by da score.
Dis' one comin' fas' an’ true,
No matter what I wish.
Back agin to da corner shop,
For water an' tuna-fish.
I need more good plywood,
For dis angry devil in da sky.
But dat greedy lumber man,
Done raise da price sky high.
Need ta full ma car tank,
Wit gas what scarce an’ so dear.
Don't know what for anyhow,
Cause I een drivin' no where.
An da gas line so long,
I feel I could hardly bear.
Back home we finish battin-up quick,
I hungry an' iss eatin’ time.
Wife say ‘Haa yall 'spek ta eat tuna-fish,
If yall een buy no lime!
I say ‘Da hurricane get me all mix-up,
Cause I feel like I losin’ my min'!
We all done lock-down nah,
In my house-prison safe an' tight.
Dis one gon hit us like a boom,
In da middle a da night.
It reach! It reach!
It 'pon top a us right now.
Light off, water off,
Who need dem anyhow.
An' yinna chirren shut up,
Dis een no time ta row.
I peep tru one lil hole,
An' see da rain an' mighty breeze.
People even walkin' in da streets,
Dey fool nah, mudda freeze!
Coconut tree dem ben' right down,
Lord only you could help us, please.
Ma crops done gone, so much I loose,
Banana, corn an' peas.
Da water level risin',
Plenty shingle flyin',
Hope we make it tru till mornin'.
Lord what kinda lan' dis is,
I gone an’ get born in?
Nah dis a real hurricane,
Hope ma house could stand da proof.
‘Stop up dat water wit some towel,
'Fore we hafta go in da roof!
Lord please save us,
Water comin’ in everywhere.
Chirren, wife, grammy and da dog,
All stanin’ up on chair.
Erryting quiet nah,
I gone outside ta spy.
What dat man on da radio jess say?
Oh Jesus! Dis only da eye!
I haul-hip back inside,
For more safety an' protection.
Nah da breeze blowin' twice as hard,
An' comin' from da nex' direction.
Lord dis me agin,
I gern ta see Pastor Lundy.
‘Cause Lord if you get us tru dis,
I gon be in church erry Sundy.
Vell da sun up an' it over now,
Look like we bin' tru war.
Hear me now Fadda Jesus,
Doon sen’ no hurricane no more.
Cutlass chappin’, chainsaw buzzin’,
A familiar soun’ in da air.
Time for us to go an’ pick up,
Half-ripe hog plum an’ pear.
Tings gettin' back in order,
It gon be a good day.
Whatchu say Mr. Wedderman?
Anudder one on da way?
Vell I gat plenty experience nah,
Cause dese hurricanes doon play.
An' t'anks for hearin' my prayers Lord,
An' sparin' us anudder day.
derek catalano (c)2004.
Dis' one comin' fas' an’ true,
No matter what I wish.
Back agin to da corner shop,
For water an' tuna-fish.
I need more good plywood,
For dis angry devil in da sky.
But dat greedy lumber man,
Done raise da price sky high.
Need ta full ma car tank,
Wit gas what scarce an’ so dear.
Don't know what for anyhow,
Cause I een drivin' no where.
An da gas line so long,
I feel I could hardly bear.
Back home we finish battin-up quick,
I hungry an' iss eatin’ time.
Wife say ‘Haa yall 'spek ta eat tuna-fish,
If yall een buy no lime!
I say ‘Da hurricane get me all mix-up,
Cause I feel like I losin’ my min'!
We all done lock-down nah,
In my house-prison safe an' tight.
Dis one gon hit us like a boom,
In da middle a da night.
It reach! It reach!
It 'pon top a us right now.
Light off, water off,
Who need dem anyhow.
An' yinna chirren shut up,
Dis een no time ta row.
I peep tru one lil hole,
An' see da rain an' mighty breeze.
People even walkin' in da streets,
Dey fool nah, mudda freeze!
Coconut tree dem ben' right down,
Lord only you could help us, please.
Ma crops done gone, so much I loose,
Banana, corn an' peas.
Da water level risin',
Plenty shingle flyin',
Hope we make it tru till mornin'.
Lord what kinda lan' dis is,
I gone an’ get born in?
Nah dis a real hurricane,
Hope ma house could stand da proof.
‘Stop up dat water wit some towel,
'Fore we hafta go in da roof!
Lord please save us,
Water comin’ in everywhere.
Chirren, wife, grammy and da dog,
All stanin’ up on chair.
Erryting quiet nah,
I gone outside ta spy.
What dat man on da radio jess say?
Oh Jesus! Dis only da eye!
I haul-hip back inside,
For more safety an' protection.
Nah da breeze blowin' twice as hard,
An' comin' from da nex' direction.
Lord dis me agin,
I gern ta see Pastor Lundy.
‘Cause Lord if you get us tru dis,
I gon be in church erry Sundy.
Vell da sun up an' it over now,
Look like we bin' tru war.
Hear me now Fadda Jesus,
Doon sen’ no hurricane no more.
Cutlass chappin’, chainsaw buzzin’,
A familiar soun’ in da air.
Time for us to go an’ pick up,
Half-ripe hog plum an’ pear.
Tings gettin' back in order,
It gon be a good day.
Whatchu say Mr. Wedderman?
Anudder one on da way?
Vell I gat plenty experience nah,
Cause dese hurricanes doon play.
An' t'anks for hearin' my prayers Lord,
An' sparin' us anudder day.
derek catalano (c)2004.
Related article: Bahamas Hurricane Report
Related article: The Bahamas: Climate Change - Effects and Preparedness
Related article: Summer Heat in the Bahamas: Dangers and Precautions
Related poem: Bahamas Summer Rain
Related poem: The Rain is Here
