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Benjamin Zephaniah

Benjamin Zephaniah

Neighbours

I am the type you are supposed to fear
Black and foreign
Big and dreadlocks
An uneducated grass eater.
 
I talk in tongues
I chant at night
I appear anywhere,
I sleep with lions
And when the moon gets me
I am a Wailer.
 
I am moving in
Next door to you
So you can get to know me,
You will see my shadow
In the bathroom window,
My aromas will occupy
Your space,
Our ball will be in your court.
How will you feel?
 
You should feel good
You have been chosen.
 
I am the type you are supposed to love
Dark and mysterious
Tall and natural
Thinking, tea total.
I talk in schools
I sing on TV
I am in the papers,
I keep cool cats
 
And when the sun is shining
I go Carnival.

#English

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I waz walking down Wyefront stree… When me trousers ran away, I waz feeling incomplete But still me trousers would not st… When I found where they had gone
Talking Turkeys!

Be nice to yu turkeys dis christma… Cos’ turkeys just wanna hav fun Turkeys are cool, turkeys are wick… An every turkey has a Mum. Be nice to yu turkeys dis christma…
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SOS (Save Our Sons)

We Black men of England Too proud to cry for shame, Let’s cry a sea Cry publicly, Expose our very pain,
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Dis poetry is like a riddim dat dr… De tongue fires a riddim dat shoot… Dis poetry is designed fe rantin Dance hall style, big mouth chanti… Dis poetry nar put yu to sleep
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The Death of Joy Gardner

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
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When I see you I know life was ma… When I see you I don’t wanna die When I don’t see you, I sleep and… It’s the truth I am telling you,… Sometime I think I cant survive w…
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The British

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Remember that vegan called Steven Yes he would not kill for no reaso… Well I saw him today Wearing nothing I say But some cabbage leaves
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