Jack And The Gunga Peas Tree Poem by Elayne Ogbeta

‘Jack, Jack, tings don't look good,
We no have no money to buy food
Go to de market, mi don't know how-
But use yu sense and go sell de cow.'

Jack was meek and Jack was mild
But oh Lord! What a foolish child!

So off Jack went without a plan
And soon bumped into a little old man
The man was kind and said with ease
‘Mi will tek your cow for these gunga peas.

Jack was meek and Jack was mild
But oh Lord! What a foolish child!

‘Ah wha dis? ' Jack's mother said.
We cannot tek dis to buy bread.
Jack's mum was angry and with a shout
She threw the gunga peas out.

The next day they were surprised to see
Outside in the yard was a gunga peas tree.

Jack was meek and Jack was mild
But oh Lord! What a curious child!

Jack climbed up and he didn't stop
Until Jack had reached the very top
And what did he see when he got there?
Stacks of money laid everywhere!

Jack was nimble and Jack was slick
Jack picked up the money quick, quick quick.
But just before he was almost done
He heard a thunderous ‘Fee-fi-fo-fum.'

Fee-fi-fo-fum
Mi smell de blood of a Jamaican man
Be him alive or be him dead
Mi gwine grind his bones to mek hard-dough bread.

Jack escaped and he climbed back down
And showed his mum what he had found
Mum was happy and jumped for joy
‘Jack I knew yu was a clever boy! '

The next morning, just before ten
Jack couldn't wait to climb up again.
Up Jack climbed, now strong and bold
There saw a hen that lay eggs of gold

Jack was nimble and jack was slick
Jack grabbed some eggs, quick, quick, quick
But just before he was almost done
He heard a thunderous ‘Fee-fi-fo-fum.'

‘Fee-fi-fo-fum
Mi smell de blood of a Jamaican man
Be him alive or be him dead
Mi gwine grind his bones to mek hard-dough bread.'

Jack escaped and he climbed back down
And showed his mum what he had found
Mum was happy and jumped for joy
‘Jack I knew yu was a wonderful boy! '

The next morning, just before ten,
Jack couldn't wait to climb up again.
Up jack climbed - his wits now sharp.
There he saw a magical golden harp

Jack was nimble and jack was slick
Jack picked up the harp, quick, quick, quick
But just before he started to run
The harp shouted, 'Master come, come, come! '

‘Fee-fi-fo-fum
Mi smell de blood of a Jamaican man
Be him alive or be him dead
Mi gwine grind his bones to mek hard-dough bread.'

Without hesitation, fearless was he
Jack dived back down the gunga peas tree
The giant behind was making tracks
‘MUMMY, ' Jack shouted. ‘Get mi de axe!

Jack gave the tree a mighty blow
And down, down, down fell the giant below
Jack took his axe and killed him dead
‘What a hero yu are, his mother said! '

Jack no more meek and no more mild
Jack indeed was a courageous child!