Benjamin Zephaniah – Robin’s Nest

The British

by Benjamin Zephaniah Take some Picts, Celts and SiluresAnd let them settle,Then overrun them with Roman conquerors.Remove the Romans after approximately 400 yearsAdd lots of Norman French to someAngles, Saxons, Jutes and Vikings, then stir vigorously.Mix some hot Chileans, cool Jamaicans, Dominicans,Trinidadians, and Bajans with some Ethiopians, Chinese,Vietnamese and Sudanese.Then take a blend of Somalians,Continue reading “The British”

White Comedy

by Benjamin Zephaniah (b1958) I was whitemailed By a white witch, Wid white magic And white lies, Branded by a white sheep I slaved as a whitesmith Near a white spot Where I suffered whitewater fever. Whitelisted as a white leg I waz in de white book As a master of white art, It wazContinue reading “White Comedy”

Nature trail

by Benjamin Zephaniah At the bottom of my garden There’s a hedgehog and a frog And a lot of creepy-crawlies Living underneath a log, There’s a baby daddy long legs And an easy-going snail And a family of woodlice, All are on my nature trail. There are caterpillars waiting For their time to come toContinue reading “Nature trail”

Nature Trail

by Benjamin Zephaniah (b. 1958) At the bottom of my garden There’s a hedgehog and a frog And a lot of creepy-crawlies Living underneath a log, There’s a baby daddy long legs And an easy-going snail And a family of wood lice, All are on my nature trail. There are caterpillars waiting For their timeContinue reading “Nature Trail”

The Death of Joy Gardner

by Benjamin Zephaniah (b. 1958) They put a leather belt around her 13 feet of tape and bound her Handcuffs to secure her And only God knows what else, She’s illegal, so deport her Said the Empire that brought her She died, nobody killed her And she never killed herself. It is our job toContinue reading “The Death of Joy Gardner”

The Race Industry

by Benjamin Zephaniah The coconuts have got the jobs. The race industry is a growth industry. We despairing, they careering. We want more peace they want more police. The Uncle Toms are getting paid. The race industry is a growth industry. We say sisters and brothers don’t fear. They will do anything for the Mayor.Continue reading “The Race Industry”