Note: This poem was put to calypso music by Duke Errol in mid-year of 1968. It is included in his album called “Calypso Island.”

 

 A grab ‘er picture from de shelf,

A wish she was her same ole self,

But dat was twenty years ago,

An’ time done change ma Laura so:

A diffren’ woman, a diffren’ wife,

A diffren’ mudda, a new kin’ o’ life.

 

My Laura hair was long an’ tin,

A joy ta run ma fingers in,

But now a red wig hide it all,

Can’ touch it or it boun’ ta fall.

 

Ma Laura dress was loose an’ long,

Da hem was jes’ where it belong,

But now, da hem done rise so high,

It ‘sposin’ all ma Laura t’igh.

 

Ma Laura shoes is quite laugh,

Dey shorter dan ole-time shoes by half,

Dem toes so broad, dem heels so tick,

Make ‘er footfall soun’ like a ton o’ brick.

 

But Laura legs too, change in style,

She spoatin’ fish-nets all de while,

Dem twiggy legs is show a site,

Fish-nets on Laura jes’ ain’ rite.

 

Ma Laura once is not de same,

Dem modern fashions is ta blame;

She pert an’ bol’ an’ younger now,

A wish someone could tell me how:

A diffren’ woman, a diffren’ wife,

A diffren’ mudda, a new kin’ o’ life.

Taken from Dr. Susan Wallace's book, Bahamian Scene.