Linton Kwesi Johnson doing Sonny's Lettah

_____


by Linton Kwesi Johnson (LKJ)


Sonny's Lettah (Anti-sus poem)


Brixton Prison
Jeb Avenue
London, South West 2
Inglan

Dear Ma Maa,

Good Day
I hope that when these few lines reach you
they may find you in the best of health

Ma Maa I really don' know how to tell yu dis
'cause, I did meck a solemn promise
to teck care a likkle Jim and try
mi best fi look out fi 'im

Ma Maa a really did try mi best
but none de less
mi sorry fi tell yu sey
poor likkle Jim get aress'
it was de middle a de rush 'our
when everybody jus' a hustle an a bustle
fi go 'ome fi dem evenin' shower

Me and Jim stand up waiting pon a bus
    not causing no fuss
when all on a sudden a police man
                pull up
out jump 3 police man
De 'ole a dem carrying baton

Dem walk up to me and Jim
one a dem 'ole on to Jim
sey 'im teckin 'im in
Jim tell him fi leggo a 'im
fa 'im no do nuttin
an 'im naw tief, not even a button

Jim start to riggle
De police start to giggle

Ma Maa, meck a tell yu weh dem do to Jim
Ma Maa , meck a tell yu we dem do to him

Dem tump 'im in 'im belly
    an' it turn to jelly
Dem lick 'im pon 'im back
    an 'im rib get pop
Dem lick 'im pon 'im head
    but it tuff like lead
Dem kick 'im in 'im seed
    an it started to bleed

Ma Maa I just couldn't just stan' up
    deh a no do nutten

So mi juck one ina 'im eye
    an 'im started to cry
Mi tump one in 'im mout
    an 'im started to shout
Mi kick one pon 'im shin
an 'im started to spin
Mi tump 'im pon 'im chin
    an 'im drop pon a bin
            an crash an dead

Ma Maa more police man come down
    an beat me to de ground

Dem charge Jim fi sus
Dem charge mi fi murder
Ma Ma!    Don't fret
don't get depress an down 'earted
be of good courage

Till I hear from yu

I remain your son

Sonny


_____





_____