Dumplin-Reggaskin Poem by Elayne Ogbeta

This is the story of the tailor's daughter.
He was known to be a mighty boaster.

Even in the palace, the king was told,
That his daughter could spin straw into gold.

"Bring me yu daughter, " The king one day said.
"Me want her to mek me some golden thread."
"Bring her to de palace by tomorrow,
Or else, dear tailor, there will be sorrow.

The tailor and him daughter was very sad.
Because they knew the king would do something bad.

The next day the tailor's daughter almost cried,
When she saw the straw as tall and as wide.

"You will turn dis straw into golden thread.
Because if yu don't, yu will loose yu head."

"Oh lord, have mercy. Now what mi gwan do?
Mi need a miracle to see dis through."

Then suddenly with a crash through the door
The strangest little man appeared on the floor.

"Eh, eh, what a gwan? so loud yu must bawl?
If there's a problem, I'm de one to call."

"Little man mi heart is in deep sorrow.
Dis straw haffe turn into gold by tomorrow."

"What will yu gimme if me do it for yu? "
"Yu can tek mi necklace. It is brand new."

No sooner said, the man sat at the wheel.
With a whir, whir, whir full, full was the reel.

All through the night the little man spun.
When morning finally came the job was done.

The king was astonished; full of delight.
that the girl had spun all the gold in one night.

Another room he took her, with plenty, plenty straw
‘Now spin dis into gold as yu did before.'

‘Oh lord, have mercy. Now what mi gwan do?
Mi need a miracle to see dis through.'

Then suddenly with a crash through the door
The strangest little man appeared on the floor.

‘Eh, eh, what a gwan? so loud yu must bawl?
If there's a problem, I'm de one to call.'

‘Little man mi heart is in deep sorrow.
Dis straw haffe turn gold by tomorrow.'

‘What will yu gimme if me do it for yu? '
‘Yu can tek me ring dat is sapphire blue.'

No sooner said, the man sat at the wheel.
With a whir, whir, whir full, full was the reel.

All through the night the little man spun.
When morning finally came the job was done.

The king was astounded; full of delight.
that the girl had spun all the gold in one night.

Another room he took her, with plenty, plenty straw.
‘Now spin dis into gold as yu did before.'

‘Oh lord, have mercy. Now what mi gwan do?
Mi need a miracle to see dis through.'

Then suddenly with a crash through the door.
The strangest little man appeared on the floor.

‘Eh, eh, what a gwan? so loud yu must bawl?
If there's a problem, I'm de one to call.'

‘Little man mi heart is in deep sorrow.
Dis straw haffe turn into gold by tomorrow.'

‘What will yu gimme if me do it for yu? '
Nuting more to give. Now what mi gwan do?

The cunning man clapped his hands and he smiled.
"When yu become queen mi want your first child."

The tailor's daughter didn't understand
But she still agreed to the strange demand.

The king was impressed; they married the next day.
Within one year, a baby was on the way.

‘What a beautiful boy, said the happy queen.'
Suddenly de little man appeared on the scene.

‘Now gimme yu child, remember our deal? '
The queen was in shock and tried to appeal.

‘I'll give yu all de treasure, if mi child you'll leave.
The little man didn't like to see her grieve.

"Alright, alright and de man did a dance.
Find out mi name, mi will give yu a chance."

‘I will give you three days to guess me name
If yu don't get it right, dat child I will claim! '

The queen sent out messengers with a command
To gather names far and wide within the land.

The first day and then the second day came
But sadly the queen could not guess his name.

But on the third day a messenger said,
"I spotted a man in de woods ahead.

De little man danced around de fire
And I saw de flames leapt higher and higher.

As de little man danced he sang dis song
He sang it loud and he sang it strong."


Merrily de feast me make
Today me brew, tomorrow me bake
Merrily, me will dance and sing
Tomorrow will a stranger bring!
Mi will shout and mi will proclaim
Dat Dumpling-reggeskin is mi name!

The queen rejoiced for his name was out.
When suddenly from nowhere there came a shout.

‘Now tell me my name; or gimme de boy.
Your time is now up, ' he chuckled with joy.

‘Is it Cowfoot, Blackeye or Redneckthin?
Or could it just simply be Dumplinreggeskin? '

The man screamed with rage which made the palace shook
He stamped his feet but his little feet got stuck.