Negro Folk Rhymes / Wise and Otherwise: With a Study

by Thomas Washington Talley

Trinidad Negro Rhymes

We are very grateful to Mr. L. A. Brown for his kindness in giving to us the two Venezuelan rhymes which follow. His home is in Princess Town, Trinidad, B. W. I.

UN BELLE MARIE COOLIE
OR
BEAUTIFUL MARIE, THE EAST INDIAN

Un belle Marie Coolie!
Un belle Marie Coolie!
Un belle Marie Coolie!
Vous belle dame, vous belle pour moi.
Papa est un African.
Mamma est un belle Coolie.
Un belle Marie Coolie!
Vous belle dame, vous belle pour moi.

Translation

Beautiful Marie, the East Indian!
Beautiful Marie, the East Indian!

Beautiful Marie, the East Indian!
You beautiful woman, you're good enough for me.
Papa is an African.
Mamma is a beautiful East Indian.
Beautiful Marie, the East Indian!
You beautiful woman, you're good enough for me.

A TOM CAT

My father had a big Tom cat,
That tried to play a fiddle.
He struck it here, and he struck it there,
And he struck it in the middle.