14. Half-caste

Question 1

Half- Caste - John Agard

Answer 1

Half- Caste - John Agard

Excuse me
standing on one leg
I’m half caste

Explainyuself
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
whenyu say half-caste
yu mean when light an shadow
mix in de sky
is a half-caste weather/
well indat case
england weather
nearly always half-caste
in fact some o dem cloud
half-caste till dem overcast
so spiteful demdont want de sun pass
ahrass/
explainyuself
wha yu mean
whenyu 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/

Explainyuself
wha yu mean
Ah listening toyu wid de keen
half ofmih ear
Ahlookin at yu wid de keen
half ofmih eye
and when I’m introduced toyu
I’m sure you’ll understand
why I offeryu 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
butyu must come back tomorrow
wid de whole of yu eye
andde whole of yu ear
andde whole of yu mind

and I will tellyu
deother half
of my story