Linton Kwesi Johnson

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1. Sonny's lettah   Interviews:   1. Interview by Billy Bob Hargus

 

 

 

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Sonny's lettah

 

Dear mama

I doun know how fi tell ya dis

for I did mek a solemn promise

fi tek care a lickle Jim

an try mi bes fi look out fi him

 

mama, I really did try mi bes

but none a di less

sorry fi tell ya seh, poor lickle Jim get arres

it was de miggle a di rush hour

evrybody jus a huzzle and a buzzle fi get home fi dem evenin shower

mi an Jim stan up waitin pon a bus

not causin no fuss

 

when all of a sudden a police van pull up

out jump tree policemen

de whole a dem carryin baton

dem walk straight up to me and Jim

one a dem hold on to Jim

seh dem tekin him in

Jim tell him fi leggo a him

for him nah do nottin

him nah thief, not even a butn (???)

Jim start to wriggle

de police start to giggle

 

mama, mek I tell you wa dem do to Jim?

mek I tell you wa dem do to him?

 

Dem thump him him in him belly and it turn to jelly

Dem thump him pon him head but it tough like lead

(sorry I forgot this line)

Dem lick him pon him back and him rib get pack

 

Mi jus couldn't stan up deh, no doin nothing

 

So mi jook one in him eye and him started fi cry

me thump him pon him mout and him started fi shout

me kick him pon him shin so him started fi spin

me hit him pon him chin an him drop pon a bin - an crash, an dead

 

More policman come dung

dem beat me to the grung

dem charge Jim fi sus <---------

dem charge mi fi murdah

 

mama, doan fret

doan get depress an downhearted

be of good courage

till I hear from you

I remain

Your son,

Sonny

 

 

From Brixton Prison, Jebb Avenue London S.W. 2 England

 

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