HALF-CASTE(by John Agard)

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


Thanks to Signifying Guyana, I've just recently learned of John Agard and his powerful poetry. Half-Caste has been on my mind ever since I read it for the first time. Then I discovered that the real treat was in fact hearing Mr Agard read the poem.

It's a magnificent piece of work, standing there waiting to be read. But you simply have to hear him read it, or risk losing much of the magic!

Technorati: john agard caribbean poetry signifyin' guyana half-caste
Del.icio.us: john agard caribbean poetry signifyin' guyana half-caste
Furl: john agard caribbean poetry signifyin' guyana half-caste