White Comedy Poem by Benjamin Zephaniah

White Comedy

Rating: 3.4


I waz whitemailed
By a white witch,
Wid white magic
An white lies,
Branded by a white sheep
I slaved as a whitesmith
Near a white spot
Where I suffered whitewater fever.
Whitelisted as a whiteleg
I waz in de white book
As a master of white art,
It waz like white death.

People called me white jack
Some hailed me as a white wog,
So I joined de white watch
Trained as a white guard
Lived off the white economy.
Caught and beaten by de whiteshirts
I waz condemned to a white mass,
Don't worry,
I shall be writing to de Black House.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Andrew James 29 September 2008

drivel... evidence that english culture is falling into a cesspool of illiterate dunderheads... zephaniah's ouvre is empty headed drivel... he has little to say other than preachy diatribes imparted with trivial insights slapped together for mass consumption and appeal... sadly i agree with his politics and share concern for the realities facing the non-white world... i also respect his passion for his subject... that does not make him a good poet or me a good politician...

35 84 Reply
Agustina B 27 July 2005

An ABSOLUTELY amazing poem that highlights how racist ideology is immersed in language and makes the reader see his point by playing with language. Zephaniah achieves his goal of both criticizing the dominant standard and at the same time empowering the languages spoken by those who once were colonized by the empire and one of its most efficient ways of depriving the colonized of their culture and nature: imposition of language. A masterpiece by one of the best poets of our times.

55 23 Reply
Ali Newton 13 June 2009

Andrew James why bother wiritng the same comment on every single poem by this man. Not only does he make politics accessible heuses language and rythm to add power and strength to the concepts behind it. Just because you are racist/ignorant, does not lessen this mans talent and control of language.

32 28 Reply
Michael Shepherd 26 February 2005

Just brilliant and to the point. Wisdom in white and black..

34 18 Reply
Iman Farrell 23 June 2009

Thank you Ali! Also A. James - why even waste time reading these poems if you know you don't like them? Iman xx

23 25 Reply
Sophie 08 November 2020

This poem shared a powerful message to the reader about how horrible the racism is right now. It really inspired me! Thank you :)

9 1 Reply
Dr Antony Theodore 25 September 2020

People called me white jack Some hailed me as a white wog, So I joined de white watch Trained as a white guard Lived off the white economy. a very fine poem. tony

5 3 Reply
Memes 10 September 2020

memes seem to be funny but not in witch sort but the best meme remes no seemingless pain

0 0 Reply
aaabatery 14 May 2019

hello ben i loved this poem it tasted like pork and was delicious, tanks

4 1 Reply
Secret Shhh 04 February 2019

disliked how you separated the races but overall amazing

2 0 Reply
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