Sonny’s Lettah
Dear Mama,
Good Day.
I hope dat wen
deze few lines reach yu,
they may find yu in di bes af helt.
Mama,
I really don’t know how fi tell yu dis,
cause I did mek a salim pramis
fi tek care a likkle Jim
an try mi bes fi look out fi him.
Mama,
I really did try mi bes,
but nondiles
mi sarry fi tell you seh
poor likkle Jim get arres.
It woz di miggle a di rush howah
wen evrybady jus a hosel an a bosel
fi goh home fi dem evenin showah;
mi an Jim stand up
waitin pan a bus,
nat cauzin no fus,
wen all af a sudden
a police van pull-up.
Out jump tree policeman,
di hole a dem carryin batan.
Dem waak straight up to mi an Jim.
One a dem hol awn to Jim
seh him tekin him in;
Jim tell him fi let goh a him
far him noh dhu notn
an him naw teef,
nat even a butn.
Jim start to wriggle
di police start to giggle.
Mama,
mek I tell yu whe dem dhu to Jim
Mama,
mek I tell yu whe dem dhu to him:
dem tump him in him belly
an it turn to jelly
dem lick him pan him back
and him rib get pap
dem lick him pan him hed
but it tuff like led
dem kick him in him seed
an it started to bleed
Mama,
I jus coudn stan-up deh
and noh dhu notn:
soh me jook one in him eye
an him started to cry
mi tump one in him mout
an him started to shout
mi kick one pan him shin
an him started to spin
mi tump him pan him chin
an him drap pan a bin
an crash
an ded.
Mama,
more policeman come dung
an beat mi to di grung;
dem charge Jim fi sus,
dem charge me fi murdah.
Mama,
don fret,
dont get depres
an doun-hearted.
Be af good courage
till I hear fram you.
I remain
your son,
Sonny.
Reality
Dis is di age af reality
But some a wi a deal wid mitalagy
Dis is di age af science an' teknalagy
But some a wi check fi antiquity
W'en wi can't face reality
Wi leggo wi clarity
Some latch aan to vanity
Some hol' insanity
Some get vision
Start preach relijan
But dem can't mek decishan
W'en it come to we fite
Dem can't mek decishan
W'en it comes to wi rites
Man
Dis is di age af reality
But some a wi deal wid mitalagy
Dis is di age af science an' teknalagy
But some a wi check fi antiquity
Dem one deh gaan outta line
Dem naw live in fi wi time
Far dem she dem get sign
An' dem bline dem eye
To di lite a di worl'
An' gaan search widin
Di dark a dem doom
An' a shout 'bout sin
Instead a fite fi win
Man
Dis is di age af reality
But some a wi deal wid mitalagy
Dis is di age af science an' teknalagy
But some a wi check fi antiquity
Dis is di age af decishan
Soh mek wi leggo relijan
Dis is di age af decishan
Soh mek we leggo divishan
Dis is di age af reality
Soh mek we leggo mitalagy
Dis is di age of science an' teknalagy
Soh mek wi hol' di clarity
Mek wi hol' di clarity
Mek wi hol' di clarity
Poems of Shape and Motion
I was wondering if I could shape this passion
Just as I wanted in solid fire.
I was wondering if the strange combustion of my days
The tension of the world inside of me
And the strength of my heart were enough.
I was wondering if I could stand as tall,
While the tide of the sea rose and fell.
If the sky would recede as I went,
Or the earth would emerge as I came
To the door of the morning, locked against the sun.
I was wondering if I could make myself
Nothing but fire, pure and incorruptible.
The wound of the wind on my face
Would be healed by the work of my life
Or the growth of the pain in my sleep
Would be stopped in the strife of my days.
I am wondering if the agony of years
Could be traced to the seed of an hour.
If the roots that spread out in the swamp
Ran too deep for the issuing flower.
I was wondering if I could find myself
All that I am in all that I could be.
If all the population of stars
Would be less than the things I could utter
And the challenge of space in my soul
Be filled by the shape I become.
I walk slowly in the wind,
Watching myself in things I did not make;
In jumping shadows and in limping cripples
Dust on earth and houses tight with sickness
Deep constant pain, the dream without sleep.
I walk slowly in the wind,
Hearing myself in the loneliness of a child
In woman's grief, which is not understood
In coughing dogs when midnight lingers long
On stones, on streets and then on echoing stars,
That burn all night and suddenly go out.
I walk slowly in the wind
Knowing myself in every moving thing
In years and days and words that mean so much
Strong hands that shake, long roads that walk
And deeds that do themselves.
And all this world and all these lives to live.
I walk slowly in the wind,
Remembering scorn and naked men in darkness
And huts of iron rivetted to earth.
Cold huts of iron stand upon this earth
Like rusting prisons
Each is well marked and each wide roof is spread
Like some dark wing
Casting a shadow or living a curse.
I walk slowly in the wind
To lifted sunset red and gold and dim
A long brown river slanting to an ocean
A fishing boat, a man who cannot drown.
I walk slowly in the wind
And birds are swift, the sky is blue like silk.
From the big sweeping ocean of water
An iron ship rusted and brown anchors itself.
And the long river runs like a snake
Silent and smooth.
I walk slowly in the wind.
I hear my footsteps echoing down the tide
Echoing like a wave on the sand or a wing on the wind
Echoing echoing
A voice in the soul, a laugh in the funny silence.
I walk slowly in the wind
I walk because I cannot crawl or fly.
- Linton Kwesi Johnson
