~ a jump-rope chant ~
Cree‑cree, Cree‑cree,
Papa Limbo,
Lè ou vini,
pa janm antre.
Papa Limbo,
tall and thin,
Creeping ‘round my house again.
Tip‐toe, tip‐toe,
can’t come in,
Salt and brick dust on my skin!
Metcha’ a man
inna’ crooked hat.
Sleeps all day with a one‐eyed cat.
Sings me a tune
through his busted tooth,
’bout-a girl he lost
in a photo booth.
Jump, kid, jump.
Don’tcha fall.
Rusty nails
Rusty nails
stickin’ in a doll.
Gonna' clap twice,
Spin-a skirt around,
Listen to him moan like-a jail-house hound.
Trip that rope
hear his call
He’s still collectin’ girls
for his picture wall.
Cree‑cree, Cree‑cree,
Papa Limbo,
Lè ou vini,
pa janm antre.
Clap two times,
spin about,
Papa Limbo,
you get out!
Red dust, white salt, slam the door,
Shadow can’t cross
my floor no more!
Aug 4, 2025
Aug 4, 2025 at 7:30 PM UTC
~ a jump-rope chant ~
Cree‑cree, Cree‑cree,
Papa Limbo,
Lè ou vini,
pa janm antre.
Papa Limbo,
tall and thin,
Creeping ‘round my house again.
Tip‐toe, tip‐toe,
can’t come in,
Salt and brick dust on my skin!
Metcha’ a man
inna’ crooked hat.
Sleeps all day with a one‐eyed cat.
Sings me a tune
through his busted tooth,
’bout-a girl he lost
in a photo booth.
Jump, kid, jump.
Don’tcha fall.
Rusty nails
Rusty nails
stickin’ in a doll.
Gonna' clap twice,
Spin-a skirt around,
Listen to him moan like-a jail-house hound.
Trip that rope
hear his call
He’s still collectin’ girls
for his picture wall.
Cree‑cree, Cree‑cree,
Papa Limbo,
Lè ou vini,
pa janm antre.
Clap two times,
spin about,
Papa Limbo,
you get out!
Red dust, white salt, slam the door,
Shadow can’t cross
my floor no more!
Jump Rope Chant (Creole) inspired by Shay Caroline Simmons https://hellopoetry.com/poem/5129264/from-a-sugar-bowl-womb/
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