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 don’t
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 looking at yu wid
de keen
half of mih eye
an 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 –
