“The STANDPIPE

Many people have made fun about those dingy white cemented standpipes; many have fallen down and bruised their knees after sliding, while fetching water in their metal buckets.
Yeah, that’s what we called them back then “Go and catch a bucket of water-the pipes gone off”
That’s what my mother used to say,
“But I am going to be late fuh school again.” I always lamented.

After a Sunday afternoon at Brandon’s beach, the water from the standpipe always felt good, especially after washing off the gritty sand from my feet and my bathing suit.
Coming home from a long afternoon at the beach, a little water from the standpipe, provided instant relief.

Long lines of people from Clevedale, Fairfield, Belfield and Seclusion Road,
Fetching water and hurrying each other up, no time for false pride,
The highfalutin neighbor was in line too, standing pouting on the other side

Authors: Charmaine J. Forde
Credit: Dr. Karl Watson (Barbados)”