Black Ice And The Seven Duppies Poem by Elayne Ogbeta

Black Ice was very beautiful
But her mudder had sadly died.
Black Ice had no choice but to live
wid her father's new ugly bride.

Her step mum was very jealous
of Ice's beauty and her grace,
So she bought herself a mirror
And each morning looked at her face.

'Mirror mirror
Strong and tall
Am I de prettiest one of all? '

'Now some of dem are good-looking
And some of dem are fine.
But yu, dear queen, my charming queen
Is beauty so divine! '

But when no-one was about
Dis is what de mirror would shout:
'I never in me life have seen
Such an hugly, hugly, hugly queen! ! ! '

Early morning, just as usual
her looking glass, de queen produced.
She had to know how good she looked,
She wanted a confidence boost.

'Mirror mirror
Strong and tall
Am I de prettiest one of all? '

To de queen's horror and surprise
She heard de mirror sneer instead.
And what she heard, she won't repeat.
But dis is what de mirror said:

'I never in my life have seen
Such an hugly, hugly, hugly queen! ! ! '

'I have been bursting all my life
To say dat yu is a hugly wife.
Where did yu pick up such a face?
Black Ice is beauty and grace.'

De queen dash away de mirror
Then called in her huntsman apart.
'I want yu to do mi a favour
BRING MI DE PRINCESSES' HEART! '

De huntsman was kind and tender.
And would never de princess smite.
So he killed a small goat instead,
While Ice ran away in de night.

When Ice awoke in de morning.
She just couldn't believe her eyes,
Because hovering all around her
Were duppies of humongous size.

One grinned and said, 'Call me Dutty.'
Another said, 'Just call me Fast.'
There was Cutlass and Confusion,
Wutlass, Mash and Bun-up was last.

Black Ice told them all her story.
Their ears and eyes opened wide.
Seven Duppies said, 'Nu problem.'
And they invited her inside.

'Mirror mirror
Now Ice is dead,
Am I de prettiest one instead? '

'I never in my life have seen
Such an hugly, hugly, hugly queen! ! ! '

'Dear queen, in all of de whole world,
Yu is de hugliest, hugliest girl.
I've said it once and will say it again.
Ice gets my vote: 10 out of 10! '

De queen was very furious
And dis gave de mirror a fright.
'I will find Black Ice, ' she said,
Then galloped away in the night.

'Mangos for sale, Mangos for sale, '
An old woman called to Black Ice.
'Come get your juicy mangos, child,
Dem is delicious, sweet and nice.'

Black Ice she did not hesitate.
But took a mighty, mighty bite.
She fell down at de women's feet,
And laid there until it was night.

When de seven duppies came home
And discovered Black Ice was dead.
They placed her in a glass coffin,
And they hovered above her head.

Soon a black prince came riding by
And saw de princess lying there.
Immediately he fell in love
And as he looked, he shed a tear.

De tear fell softly pon her face,
And to the prince's great surprise,
Life came back into de princess
As she gently opened up her eyes.

De Princess was very happy
They were married without delay,
So de queen smashed up her mirror,
But de pieces continued to say:

'I never, ever in my life have seen
Such an hugly, hugly, hugly queen! '