The Masquerade Band

Dec 22, 2023 Letters

By Haimnauth Cecil Ramkirath

Fifes, flutes, fiddles, kettle and boom drums, triangle and shac-shac—

festive music and beats of the masquerade band along the street.

Children ran to see the fun.

Every man and woman reveling in sweet music.

There was much dancing, wining, and flouncing, and revelers moving and grooving on Christmas morning.

Costumes—a patchwork of outlandish colors.

A mismatch never seen; more bizarre with the ghoulish masks.

Men danced on stilts.

“Long Lady” brushed the clouds away; it was a sun-drenched day.

Mother Sally gyrated with a big, big behind.

There was much dancing, wining, and flouncing, and revelers moving and grooving on Christmas morning

Gone the pain in knees and joints; Nani and Nana pranced and danced,

and incited the band to raise the music like Jouvay on Christmas day.

Big Bertha brought out black cake and mauby.

Every reveler on the street had a treat.

There was much dancing, wining, and flouncing,

and revelers moving and grooving on Christmas morning

Then the music stopped; the leader of the band raised his voice.

Revelers and onlookers listened to every word:

“Christmas comes once a year, and every man shall have his share,

but poor brother Joe in the jail drinking sour ginger beer! Blow! Blow!”

Fifes, flutes, fiddles, kettle and boom drums, triangle and shac-shac

heeded the leader’s call; the verve and energy flooded the street.

There was much dancing, wining, and flouncing,

and revelers moving and grooving on Christmas morning.

And the man with the “Bull-Cow” rushed to the crowd.

Children saw the lowered horns; they saw fire in the bull’s eyes.

They ran; they came back; a dangerous thing to tease

a mad bull born to gore, but what a thing to watch:

the sweet mischief of children and bull.

There was much dancing, wining, and flouncing,

and revelers moving and grooving on Christmas morning.

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