Idol Worshipping

Over the years I have acquired an appreciation for other people’s poetry. For all the right reasons too. I have read, extensively, the literary works of poets from South Africa and beyond. I cannot claim that I have read most of the poet’s works worth reading. I fear I have only thrown a pebble into the ocean, in that regard.

Lynton Kwesi Johnson’s Inglan Is A Bitch is a pebble worth mentioning.

“w'en mi jus' come to Landan toun
mi use to work pan di andahgroun
but workin' pan di andahgroun
y'u don't get fi know your way aroun'

Inglan is a bitch
dere's no escapin' it
Inglan is a bitch
dere's no runnin' whey fram it

mi get a lickle jab in a big 'otell
an' awftah a while, mi woz doin' quite well
dem staat mi aaf as a dish-washah
but w'en mi tek a stack, mi noh tun clack-watchah!

…”

- © Inglan Is A Bitch by Lynton Kwesi Johnson

Too Nice.

Namaste.