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Caribbean proverbs and folklore, interspersed with family stories about growing up on a Caribbean

Proverbs are the means by which older generations pass on the fruits of their experience to their children. Every culture or society develops its own unique body of proverbs, using its own language. Tribes without schools use proverbs as a basic teaching tool for social mores. The English-speaking Caribbean is known for its colourful lifestyle, music, dance and speech. Equally colourful are its proverbs, many deriving from African tribal roots, others adapted from colonial masters, or Biblical teachings.

Deborah Moore-Miggins has had a fascination with Caribbean proverbs since she was a child growing up in rural Tobago. Drawing from her family experiences and her wide circle of friends, she has put together an impressive collection of Caribbean proverbs, conveniently grouped in areas of ethical subject.

Her nostalgic description of exciting island pastimes, such as, catching crabs, pulling seines on the beach and eating mangoes, are riveting. The scene she paints of villagers gathered on moonlit nights to exchange proverbs and folklore holds one spellbound. The result is a valuable work of scholarship, besides being an amusing and enlightening leisure-time read.

"Every day is fishing day but not every day is ketching day." This is one of the better known Caribbean proverbs. The fisherman goes to sea every day but he is quite mindful of the fact that he is not likely to catch fish on every occasion that he goes to sea.

Fishing is a very important activity in the Caribbean. We think that our fish is the best tasting fish on this earth. We love to eat fish in every form and fashion and we are past masters in preparing it, too. What a variety of fish dishes we have!

This indigenous proverb is one of the many that has helped Caribbean people develop a patient and positive mindset towards the challenges of life. The proverb also has a wider meaning as it suggests that although we are entitled to seek favours or advantages whenever we can get them, we are not likely to succeed every time. Sometimes we will fail – just like the fisherman.

If a young man has an interest in fishing, and he organizes himself to do it commercially, he will find it to be a very fulfilling trade. Of course, his first lesson must be patience …. while he is waiting for that fish to bite.