Mangoes and Bullets: A Poetic Exploration of Language and Identity by John Agard - Prof. F, Sbobinature di Lingua Inglese

Listen Mr Oxford don

Me not no Oxford don

me a simple immigrant

from Clapham Common

I didn’t graduate

I immigrate

I ent have no knife

but mugging de Queen’s English

is the story of my life

I dont need no axe

to split/ up yu syntax

I dont need no hammer

to mash/ up yu grammar

I warning you Mr Oxford don

imagine a concise peaceful man like me/

dem want me serve time

for inciting rhyme to riot

but I rekking it quiet

down here in Clapham Common

I’m not a violent man Mr Oxford don

I only armed wit mih human breath

but human breath

is a dangerous weapon

I making de Queen’s English accessory/ to my offence

JOHN AGARD

from Mangoes and Bullets, Serpent’s Tail, 1985