It would seem at first glance
A place like any other
A valley cut perhaps by water
Unless you knew better
Or looked closer
The unbelievably tall coconut trees
Looking like they'd snap at the slightest breeze
The little bamboo stand
A variety of shrubs and plants most
Didn't understand
One that I always liked
Long thick smooth leaves
The ended in a spike
It was a very ordinary and extraordinary spot
They called Cowitch Ghaut

The first time we went through there
I was a small boy
But I still remember the strong sense of fear
Unexplainable 
They'd talk about Duppy
It's how they dealt with any mystery
But Duppy never once bothered me
I was afraid to walk 
The long slightly winding road
Especially this one corner
At the very top
There's something about that spot
There are secrets in Cowitch Ghaut

The old man lived alone
Friendly
Copper-colored skin
Not very tall
Bill he'd call me and
Something else I can't recall
A small wooden house
In between the trees
A little garden to the front
Flowers that would bloom
Pink purple and white
Standing out from the greenery
Like a multi-colored light
Kept to himself
Had skills they didn't understand
Answered to one name
Huckleman

I liked him
They were supposed to be extinct
His kind
They paid him no mind
He'd invite me in once in a while
His place smelt funny
Nice funny
A mixture of herbs
And other stuff you couldn't fathom as a child
I'd listen to things he'd say
Look around
Ask about this
Ask about that
And wondered where he went
When he wandered into Cowitch Ghaut

I remembered liked it was yesterday
When he passed away
And I was thinking today
What a damn shame
He left before I was old enough
To fully understand the game
I overcame my fear of the place
Figured out what went up and what went down
There's still a bit of a mystery
But I know why it attracted “the bee”
And eventually comforted me
Many an afternoon
I'd take a book and find
Especially in eighty-nine
This little spot
And looked and listened
To Cowitch Ghaut


You can look deep into space
And miss the secrets
Right under your face


Cowitch Ghaut - copyright © 2003 Ahkenaton  all rights reserved