Tuesday 10 July 2018

Tuesday Poem: "Half Caste" by John Agard


Excuse me
Standing on one leg

I'm half-caste


Explain yuself

Wha yu mean

When yu say half-caste

Yu mean when picasso

Mix red an green

Is a half-caste canvas?

Explain yuself

Wha u mean

When yu say half-caste

Yu mean when light an shadow

Mix in de sky

Is a half-caste weather??

Well in dat case

England weather

Nearly always half-caste

In fact some o dem cloud

Half-caste till dem overcast

So spiteful dem dont want de sun pass

Ah rass

Explain yuself

Wha yu mean

When yu say half-caste?

Yu mean tchaikovsky

Sit down at dah piano

An mix a black key

Wid a white key

Is a half-caste symphony?


Explain yuself

Wha yu mean

Ah listening to yu wid de keen

Half of mih ear

Ah looking at u wid de keen

Half of mih eye

And when I'm introduced to yu

I'm sure you'll understand

Why I offer yu half-a-hand

An when I sleep at night

I close half-a-eye

Consequently when I dream

I dream half-a-dream

An when moon begin to glow

I half-caste human being

Cast half-a-shadow

But yu come back tomorrow

Wid de whole of yu eye

An de whole of yu ear

And de whole of yu mind


An I will tell yu

De other half

Of my story


by John Agard


For more information about poet, John Agard, see:

https://www.poetryarchive.org/poet/john-agard

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