1-9-2014
Coconut….coconut water, jelly,
nut, nut.....
The call of the local
coconut vendor as he wipes the blade of his pouyant (unsure of spelling, word
of Trini patois origin, pronounced “poo yah”), also known as a cutlass or
machete, and sharpens it against a stone or file.
People driving by may signal, gesticulating
with their hands and arms and yelling out in local dialect “how much for ah
bottle dey boi?” The seller with little
emotion and sullen eyes responds softly “35”.
The drivers swings in without caution, “leh meh geh one nah” and the
vendor runs to start chopping away at the younger nuts. He looks up and with a smile says “you know
wha d young nut good for?” no response from his patrons, “that is whey u get
your vitah-lity, d natchral nutrients does make yuh feel good, yuh see when yuh
see ah old man shakin’ an shiverin’, if he get ah young nut all dat stop”, he
responds smirking. “That is why I giving
YOU the young nuts, yuh wha ah next bottle?”
What a sales pitch. The
natural gift for gab of the local vendors never cease, to amuse me. They can “sweet”
talk or “mamaguy” anyone.
All jokes aside the
coconut water provided by this vendor is sweet and nice, we are repeat customers.
This is Palmiste Trinidad,
local vendor featured has the top of the nut flying, with one swipe of his
blade. Small shrapnel of coconut, litter his shirt and the air around.
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2013, Odette M. Lawrence and NorDean Canvas. All rights reserved. The use
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