(original poem in Jamaican patois)

Wat a joyful news, Miss Mattie,

I feel like my heart gwine burs

Jamaica people colonizing

Englan in reverse. …

[…]

For wen dem ketch a Englan,

And start play dem different role,

Some will settle down to work

An some will settle fe de dole…

[…]

Me say Jane will never fine work

At de rate how she dah look,

For all day she stay pon Aunt Fan couch

An read love-story book.

Wat a devilment a Englan!

Dem face war an brave de worse

But me wonderin how dem gwine stan

Colonizin in reverse.

[…]

(“translated” poem)

What joyful news, Miss Mattie,

I feel like my heart is going to burst

Jamaica people colonizing

England in reverse. …

For when they get to England,

And start to play their different role,

Some will settle down to work

And some will settle for the dole

I say Jane will never find work

Given how she is looking,

For all day she stays on Aunt Fan’s couch

And reads a love-story book.

Goodness me, England!

They faced war and braved worse

But I am wondering how they are going to stand

Colonizing in reverse.

Available in: https://www.poetrybyheart.org.uk/poems/colonization-in-reverse. Acess on: Jan. 30, 2026.

From a decolonial perspective, select the correct interpretation of the poem.