History · St. Mary · written in Patois with an English translation
Op pon one high-high hill jus outside Port Maria, one likkle house name Firefly a look dung pon di sea. Di view from op deh a one a di prettiest inna di whole a Jamaica — yuh can see di bay, di reef-dem, an pon a clear day, miles a blue wata. Long time aback, di pirate Henry Morgan did use di same spot as lookout, caa from op deh yuh coulda see ship from far. Den inna 1956, di famous English playwright an showman Noël Coward build im house pon di hill. Im did love Jamaica bad-bad. Some a di biggest people inna di worl' come nyam dinner a Firefly — Queen Elizabeth herself, Winston Churchill, movie star like Sophia Loren. But di house self stay likkle an simple, caa a di view an di quiet Coward did come fa. A deh so im write an paint till im ole. Coward live a Firefly till im dead, March 1973, an dem bury im right inna di garden, unda one marble slab, near di spot weh im love fi siddung watch sunset. Tideh Firefly a one National Heritage Site. Yuh can visit di house, see im piano an im painting-dem, an tan pon di lawn look dung pon Port Maria bay, jus like im use to. Quiet riva run deep, ee?
Up on a very high hill just outside Port Maria, a little house named Firefly looks down on the sea. The view from up there is one of the prettiest in all of Jamaica — you can see the bay, the reefs, and on a clear day, miles of blue water. Long ago, the pirate Henry Morgan used the same spot as a lookout, because from up there you could see ships from far away. Then in 1956, the famous English playwright and entertainer Noël Coward built his house on the hill. He loved Jamaica dearly. Some of the biggest names in the world came to dinner at Firefly — Queen Elizabeth herself, Winston Churchill, movie stars like Sophia Loren. But the house itself stayed small and simple, because it was the view and the quiet that Coward came for. That is where he wrote and painted into his old age. Coward lived at Firefly until he died in March 1973, and they buried him right in the garden, under a marble slab, near the spot where he loved to sit and watch the sunset. Today Firefly is a National Heritage Site. You can visit the house, see his piano and his paintings, and stand on the lawn looking down on Port Maria bay, just as he used to. Still waters run deep, don't they?
Op pon wan ai-ai il jos outsaid Port Maria, wan likl ous niem Firefly a luk dong pon di sii. Di vyuu fram op de a wan a di pritiis iina di uol a Jamieka — yu kyan si di bie, di riif-dem, an pon a klier die, mailz a bluu wata. Lang taim abak, di pairit Henry Morgan did yuuz di siem spat az lukout, kaa fram op de yu kuda si ship fram faar. Den iina 1956, di fiemos English plierait an shuoman Noël Coward bil im ous pon di il. Im did lov Jamieka bad-bad. Som a di bigis piipl iina di worl kom nyam dina a Firefly — Queen Elizabeth erself, Winston Churchill, muuvi staar laik Sophia Loren. Bot di ous self stie likl an simpl, kaa a di vyuu an di kwaiat Coward did kom fa. A de so im rait an pient til im uol. Coward liv a Firefly til im ded, March 1973, an dem beri im rait iina di gyaadn, onda wan maabl slab, nier di spat we im lov fi sidong wach sonset. Tide Firefly a wan National Heritage Site. Yu kyan vizit di ous, si im piano an im pientin-dem, an tan pon di laan luk dong pon Port Maria bie, jos laik im yuus tu. Kwaiat riva ron diip, ii?
The history and the figures come from the sources above. The Patois is mine.
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