Songs of Jamaica

Claude McKay was one of the twentieth century's finest poets and Songs of Jamaica (1912) was his first published work. This pioneering collection, written in Jamaican Patois, was the first of its kind. In the opening poem 'Quashie to Buccra' he asserts the worker's voice:

"You tas'e petater an' you say it sweet, But you no know how hard we wuk fe it; You want a basketful fe quattiewut, 'Cause you no know how 'tiff de bush fe cut."

This collection includes the poems:

QUASHIE TO BUCCRA

MY NATIVE LAND, MY HOME

BENEATH THE YAMPY SHADE

WHEN YOU WANT A BELLYFUL

KILLIN' NANNY

KING BANANA

HARD TIMES

MOTHER DEAR

CUDJOE FRESH FROM DE LECTURE

TO CLARENDON HILLS AND H. A. H.

STROKES OF THE TAMARIND SWITCH

SCHOOL-TEACHER NELL'S LUB-LETTER