Culture Stories

Chicken Merry, Hawk De Near

If you grew up with Jamaican grandparents, you may have heard this proverb when you were feeling a little too comfortable.

And if you didn’t understand what Granny meant, she probably wasn’t going to explain. 😂

She’d just look at you and say:

“Chicken merry, hawk de near.”

Literally, the chicken is happy while the hawk is nearby.

Think about it.

The chicken is outside, minding its business. Pecking around. Eating. Probably feeling pretty good about life.

Everything is going fine.

But somewhere nearby, a hawk is watching.

The chicken doesn’t see it.

That’s the point.

The proverb is a reminder that sometimes we’re enjoying ourselves, celebrating, or feeling confident without realizing that trouble may be closer than we think.

Maybe you got a little too comfortable.

Maybe you were celebrating before the situation was truly settled.

Maybe you were ignoring the warning signs because everything looked good.

Granny’s message was simple:

Enjoy yourself—but don’t lose your awareness.

Our grandparents had a way of taking ordinary things they saw around them and turning them into lessons about life. A chicken and a hawk became a reminder not to take good fortune for granted.

Because sometimes, everything can look merry on the outside while something else is quietly watching.

So the next time somebody is celebrating a little too soon, you might not need a long speech.

Just smile and say:

“Chicken merry, hawk de near.”

And if they know Jamaican proverbs, they’ll know exactly what you mean.