Songs of Jamaica (1912)
Ione
SAY if you lub me, do tell me truly,
Ione, Ione;
For, O me dearie, not’in’ can part we,
Ione, Ione.
Under de bamboo, where de fox-tail[1] grew,
Ione, Ione.
While do cool breeze blew — sweet, I did pledge you,
Ione, Ione.
Where calalu[2] grows, an’ yonder book flows,
Ione, Ione.
I held a dog-rose under your li’l[3] nose,
Ione, Ione.
There where de lee stream plays wid de sunbeam
Ione, Ione.
True be’n de love-gleam as a sweet day-dream,
Ione, Ione.
Watchin’ de bucktoe[4] under de shadow
Ione, Ione.
Of a pear-tree low dat in de stream grow,
Ione, Ione.
Mek me t’ink how when we were lee children,
Ione, Ione.
We used to fishen[5] in old Carew Pen,[6]
Ione, Ione.
Like tiny meshes, curl your black tresses,
Ione, Ione.
An’ my caresses tek widout blushes,
Ione, Ione.
Kiss me, my airy winsome lee fairy,
Ione, Ione.
Are you now weary, little canary,
Ione, Ione.
Then we will go, pet, as it is sunset,
Ione, Ione.
Tek dis sweet vi’let, we will be one yet,
Ione, Ione.