Benjamin Zephaniah

Politricks 

satire and humour

you taught me that behind clever rhymes 

is the life played on repeat 

even if it’s on the rong radio station 

you lived your life as a warrior poet

with your black belt 

and heart felt verse

you spoke words not to fill your purse or wallet

but because you wanted to make a change 

in this world of racism and drama 

you wanted better karma for us all

though your words have been graffitied onto walls

and written in our minds for all time

Rasta master poet 

the man with the flow don’t we know it

a dread degree in ghettology

but a man of philosophy and psychology with 

eloquence who spoke to us all

and with a tear in remembrance 

I celebrate your life 

may you walk in heavens fields

and may we never yield to injustice 

like you taught us 

because you taught us life’s value 

and the value of all people 

anarchy and self determinism 

we choose our fate 

to fight for what’s right 

like you’d say is never too late!

I want to swipe left on this world

I want to Swipe left

On this world

no love finds me

no matter how I try

the right way to live is to cry

but at least I am here

I leave my mark

my divinity just a spark

I have written a thousand poems of longing

I have ached thousands days of love

and never been touched

I clutched at thousand straws

fought a thousand wars

in my head

if I could ever be respected

I’d choose love instead

as love is hope

and fear is respect

I answer in the tongue of the goddess

the only language I understand

in the chaos which haunts and daunts me.

I already said I loved you

I already said I loved you

I already read the words

I already looked for answers

in the sky your heart and the free flying birds

I already grasped for your hand

I already whispered to your soul

I already took the plunge

but fell short of my goal

I already spent days with you

I already kissed your cheek

I already have your voice in my head

I already am that mad every week

the loss of you spiralling and making me sad

the chances are we will never meet again

but I am glad we were once close

I already thought about it already is my ghost…