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Di Ooman Ahn Di Rastaman

Marlon Pitter

(Patois)

Wahn Ooman goh inna Rasta Nym food shap fi goh buy suppm.
Di adda custama dem inna di shap a ahda wa dem wahn.
Shi sey, “Natty Dread, omuch fi a bulla an cheese?”
But Rasta Nym nuh ansa.
Im jus ignore ar an a gwaan serve di adda custama dem.

Di Ooman axe im again, “Natty Dread, omuch fi a bulla an cheese?”
Rasta Nym still nuh ansa.
Im a gwaan serve di adda custama dem.
Di ooman get angry caw shi nuh wahn wiet.
Shi staat mek nize an a gwaan like shi nuh ave nuh brawtupsy.

Shi sey, “Natty Dread, yuh nuh ier mia axe di price a di bulla an cheese?”
Rasta Nym ansa cawm, “Rasta nuh soun betta tu yuh dan Natty Dread?”
The custama dem bus out wid laaf,
Soh di ooman cum outa di food shap quick ahn guh dung di ruod.

(English translation)

A woman enters Rasta Nym’s grocery store to buy something.
The other customers are ordering what they want.
She said, “Natty Dread, how much does a bulla and cheese cost?”
Rasta Nym doesn’t answer.
He just ignores her and continues serving the other customers.

The woman asks him again, “Natty Dread, how much does a bulla and cheese cost?”
Rasta Nym still doesn’t respond.
He continues serving the other customers.
The woman becomes angry because she doesn’t want to wait.
She starts making noise and behaving as if she doesn’t have good upbringing.

She said, “Natty Dread, don’t you hear me asking the price of a bulla and cheese?”
Rasta Nym replies calmly, “Doesn’t Rasta sound better to you than Natty Dread?”
The customers burst out laughing,
So the woman comes out of the grocery store quickly and goes down the road.

(C) Marlon Pitter
12/10/2021


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