GIUSEPPE, da barber, ees greata for "mash,"
He gotta da bigga, da blacka mustache,
Good clo'es an' good styla an' playnta good cash.
W'enevra Giuseppe ees walk on da street,
Da peopla dey talka, "how nobby! how neat!
How softa da handa, how smalla da feet."
He raisa hees hat an' he shaka hees curls,
An' smila weeth teetha so shiny like pearls;
O! many da heart of da seelly young girls
He gotta.
Yes, playnta he gotta—
But notta
Carlotta!
Giuseppe, da barber, he maka da eye,
An' lika da steam engine puffa an' sigh,
For catcha Carlotta w'en she ees go by.
Carlotta she walka weeth nose in da air,
An' look through Giuseppe weeth far-away stare,
As eef she no see dere ees som'body dere.
Giuseppe, da barber, he gotta da cash,
He gotta da clo'es an' da bigga mustache,
He gotta da seely young girls for da "mash,"
But notta—
You bat my life, notta—
Carlotta.
I gotta!
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Comments
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How could Carlotta turn down "da bigga mustache?"
Fun poem that probably breaks someone's sense of propriety by today's emphasis on political correctness. For fear of seeming insensitive, I smiled quite wide when reading it. -
Mia Carlotta
From guest Joe Sage (contact)
I thought the title was Giuseppe da Barber, but wrong as usual. The other night it came to my head - don't know why - but I did this in high school public speaking course in 1950. Always a winner. Think I'll work on it again. -
Mia Carlotta
I love this poem. I have used it in public dramatic readings, along with Daly's "Da Leetla Boy." The dialect makes this light poem more humorous and the tragic poem much sadder. -
Refound It!
From guest John (contact)
I recited T. A. Daly's Poem, "Leetla Georgio Washington" in my High School Sophomore English class (about 51 years ago!)and got an A+ for it. I loved this one too and was looking to complete my Christmas 2007 gift collection -- a reprint of McAroni Ballads by T. A. Daly. He had a great ear for MOST of the Italian accent but having grown up Italian American I recognize its flaws. Still it is the best of its kind. Thanks for the memories. -
From guest TomsOld (contact)
I'm 71. I tried to recite Mia Carlotta with accent in Catholic grade school and was told to sit down. I revived the poem about 10 years ago and love it. -
From guest Don Wagner (contact)
Thaks for a poem I had in school many, many years ago. It brings back fond memories. Isn't the internet wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -
Oh nostalgia! Oh warm and cherished memories --- my thoughts after reading and stealing T A Daly's poem and reviewing it for the first time since college, 1956. Thank you. I shall return
From guest George C. King (contact)
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Only Remembered this today...
From guest Kelly (contact)
This was one of my father's favourite poems. He recited it often when we were kids and made us laugh. He passed away this week at the age of 70. -
Great!
I'm now forty years old and did a poetry recital in grade four. I recited "Mia Carlotta" with all the Italian hand gestures and won the competition.
I have fond memories of this poem. -
I have been trying to get a copy of Mia Carlotta for a year now. I'm 72 and wanted my grandchildren to read the poem. Thanks much.
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