Latest update February 11th, 2025 2:15 PM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

These little things mean a lot

Nov 24, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
Most times whenever I address a topic that deals with less serious and everyday troubling issues, some folks upon meeting me would share with me their objections, schooling me on the need to avoid the trivial and stick to those causing us much affliction that seems never ending.
But in as much as I am aware that we have a multiplicity of unpleasantries which can overwhelm us, I still think that we need, as they say in basketball “time out”, so that we can recharge – for if we don’t we can drain and drag ourselves worn out – “too much of one thing is good for nothing”. And is it not written that there is a time for everything under the sun.
So while I can understand the folks who are hurting in many and different ways, and need to see priority being given to those situation, I find it hard to constantly bypass the many lighthearted, funny and amusing things that happen around us every day, the hits and pieces of life that bring moments of laughter, joy, teasing thoughts that brighten our day, and even if for an instant, transport us into a realm that makes us forget everything, all the blight, sadness and discomfort.
And isn’t that good? As I’m writing this the movie musical Jesus Christ Super Star comes to mind; where when Christ was beside himself, got into a rage and shouted out, “there is not a man among you who knows or cares if I come or go” had to be cautioned by Mary Magdalene about the damage he was inflicting on himself by being too preoccupied with taking on the people’s burden, thus she sang to him: “Try not to get worried, try not to turn unto problems that upset you…..and we want you to sleep well tonight, let the world turn without you tonight. If we try we’ll get by, so forget about us tonight” – see, words of comfort to Christ!
Come on, who are we then to endure the constant hangings, vagaries and vicissitudes of this life without ease, God knows we need a break-to lighten up for our own sake. And with the Christmas season upon us, bad as things may be, many of us will still make a dying effort to make the best we can of the season and not let any devil or evil forces hold us down. My father’s favourite phrase whenever he wanted an ease from the pressures of demands and complaints that were flooding him was, “look, satan easy leh meh hear whey the breeze blowing from”.
And this, initially is what I’d wanted to talk about; our sharp cutting “craz” dialect with their beautiful colourful and lively expressions that we coined and which we apply daily to “paint the picture of our plight”, delight, a good or had thing or just observing a happening or relating a story.
Like the young man who was amused by the instant eagerness of his sister not to be left out of any activity, says him, “one thing with you, since yuh she praanh, yuh ready”, now I’ve written this word “praanh” a number of times to see if it looked the way it sounded, and that’s the puzzling thing about the spelling of these creole words – different spelling same sound. And also this creole expression is similar in meaning to “not every tin cup yuh hear nack yuh gat to run and guh”.
Then there is this popular one we hear so often, but which sums up the situation well: “since yuh mek two turn round de lil money done” or “de day done”. But the strangest I got in a long time was from the woman in Coomaka mines, who said to me, “George potato days gaan lang”. But the one for me that is quick and to the point is “done the dance”, bringing closure to a good or bad situation, which is the same as “Sam shut up”.
Once in a while I would hear “all gone lake” which as I understand it means it’s over – finished with. Indulgence in these frivolities, these simple, little things once in a while does one no harm, but rather can be a form of stress therapy. As the late great Sam Cooke sang “These little things mean a lot”.
Frank Fyffe

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| February, 10th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Khalil, Pollard and Barker reign supreme as BCQS Int’l Masters concludes

Khalil, Pollard and Barker reign supreme as BCQS Int’l Masters...

Feb 11, 2025

Kaieteur Sports–Guyanese squash players delivered standout performances at the 2025 BCQS International Masters Tournament, held at the Georgetown Club, with Jason-Ray Khalil, Regan Pollard, and...
Read More
Cricket West Indies passes historic governance reform at special meeting of shareholders

Cricket West Indies passes historic governance...

Feb 11, 2025

Archery Guyana hosts thrilling 2024 National Indoor Youth Open, showcasing the next generation of archery talent

Archery Guyana hosts thrilling 2024 National...

Feb 11, 2025

Prashad claims victory at the recently concluded DEMLIFE Golf Tourney

Prashad claims victory at the recently concluded...

Feb 11, 2025

West Indies & Sri Lanka top their respective pools with hard earned victories in Round 1 of the OVER-50s World Cup

West Indies & Sri Lanka top their respective...

Feb 11, 2025

Allicock, Amsterdam named in GBA training squad 2025 Caribbean Boxing Championships

Allicock, Amsterdam named in GBA training squad...

Feb 10, 2025

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]