To Inspector W. E. Clark (On his Return)

[Note: This is a sequel of sorts to a poem in Songs of Jamaica, “To Inspector W.E. Clark (On the Eve of his Depature for England”]

WE welcome you, dear Sir, again;
But oh! de comin’ brings us pain,
For though we greet you glad to-day,
Once more you’re bound to go away:
We grieve now deeper than before
To know you’ll be wid us no more.

We fought o’ meetin’ you in gladness;
But no, our hearts are filled with sadness
To learn why we must part from you,
An officer so dear an’ true:
Our prayer is dat de Fates will bless
You an’ your kin wid health an’ peace.

Farewell, dear Sir, farewell again! —
A farewell fraught wi’ deepest pain:
De very ringin’ o’ de bell
Sounds like a wailin’ of farewell;
We feel it deeply, to de core,
To know you’ll be wid us no more.