David Dabydeen's 'Coolie Mother'
Beryl Clarke, Contributor

Tiffany Williams speaks during The Gleaner's Student Forum on Agriculture at William Knibb High School, in Trelawny, recently. - Claudine Housen/Staff Photographer

There are 20 poems on our syllabus. We need to discuss them one at a time at regular intervals to ensure that all 20 are covered. This is why today we are going to examine David Dabydeen's 'Coolie Mother'.

I am sorry that I cannot see your reaction to the title of the poem for the word 'coolie' has often been viewed in a negative light. When we consider the fact, however, that the poet is an Indo-Guyanese, we have to pause to find reasons for this choice. He could have said 'Indian Mother', but that may not have been accurate. Why then didn't he say 'Indo-Guyanese Mother'? He must have had a good reason or reasons.

Have you come up with any yet? Think, think! It is possible that Dabydeen chose this title to show how Jasmattie is viewed by others in their society, as an ordinary, lower- class, poor woman. We can also conclude that this title points to the racial division between Afro-Guyanese and the Indo-Guyanese, in that people of African descent may have referred to people of Indian descent as 'coolies'.

Relationships

We can surmise, even before we read the poem, that it has something to do with a child or children but we have to delve into it to know what it says about their relationship.

'Coolie Mother' is written in creole and tells the story of a mother who, while facing intense economic and social pressures, has great hopes for her son.

Does she remind you of anyone you know? Jamaican mothers used to be known, and many still are, for their willingness to make sacrifices for their children so that they can be successful. Here we learn of a Guyanese who has the same attitude. The speaker outlines how a poor, hard-working woman has made up her mind that no matter what it takes or what it costs, her son is going to get an education. In fact, her dream is for him to attend university in England to read for a law degree. Her strength, mental that is, is revealed when we learn that she cannot count on his father for any support as he spends whatever money he has on liquor.

Finally, before we look at the poem, let me ask you this question. What do you know about Guyana that is important in this context? You are aware that the population is made up mainly of people of African and East Indian origin. Like Jamaica, Guyana, then British Guiana, was a colony of England where after slavery, East Indians were brought as indentured labourers. They were taken to the Caribbean to work on sugar estates. East Indians were sometimes called 'coolies', a word which, for some, was meant to belittle and show contempt. As a Guyanese, Dabydeen has intimate knowledge of his country and of the social conditions under which Guyanese of both races exist.

Please read the poem now and answer the following questions.

Coolie Mother

Jasmattie live in bruk-
Down hut big like Bata shoe-box,
Beat clothes, weed yard, chop wood, feed fowl
For this body and that body and every blasted body
Fetch water, all day water like if the
Whole slow-flowing Canje river God create
Just for she one bucket.

Till she foot bottom crack and she hand cut-up
And curse swarm from she mouth like red ants
And she cough blood on the ground but mash it in:
Because Jasmattie heart hard, she mind set hard.

To hustle save she one-one penny,
Because one-one dutty make dam cross the Canje
And she son Harrilal got to go school in Georgetown
Must wear clean starch pants, or they go laugh at he,
Strap leather on he foot, and he must read book,
Learn talk proper, take exam, go to England university,
Not turn out like he rum-sucker chamar dadee.

Who is Jasmattie?

Is it true to say that she lived in luxurious circumstances? Give reasons for your answers.

Why do you think that the poet describes Jasmattie's work, her cursing and her health?

Read the poem again and put all four verses in your own words.

You cannot read this piece of Caribbean literature and remain unmoved. It is similar to reading a history lesson. Take time to work on it and get all you can from it. Be as persistent as Jasmattie. Be good to yourselves and God bless!

Beryl Clarke teaches at Glenmuir High School.