Thread: half-caste

i love this poem, i think it has so many hidden meanings and i just wanted to share it. heather

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 yu 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 lookin at yu 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 must come back tomorrow
wid de whole of yu eye
an de whole of yu ear
an de whole of yu mind
an I will tell yu
de other half
of my story

John Agard,

This is on the AQA English Language syllabus for GCSE In fact, I think I wrote my exam essay on this one...I can't remember it too well though, the whole exam period is a blur. But at any rate, I remember the 'Anthology' they gave us, and that this was one of the few good poems in 'other cultures' section. The prose section was pure, distilled tripe, but the pre-1914 poetry was quite good. That, however was English Literature, rather than Language, and so concludes my lesson on the British educational system.

I agree, it is a good poem, and it makes use of the layout and dialect perfectly. I'm not sure if there is a copyright issue, however, with posting it on a public forum...nonetheless, I am sure one of the mods will enlighten us.

Totally AWESOME!

This is an amazing poem,it was the best i did it at GCSE language(before chirstmas this year). We seen the video aswell, one of my favorites from the AQA anthologly. I do think that literature had a better selection mind, we've not got the results of that one yet though.

Oh wow

I studied this at GCSE level and thought this to be a profound and witty piece. Very insightful of ignorance.

i despise this poem. completely see through and trying too hard.