How to Write a Poem

1
Benjamin Zephaniah
a man a rastafarian a rapper a poet
2
A Man Called Benjamin(born in Jamaica in 1958
and emigrated to Birmingham )

• Hes a creative person
• His main ambition is to turn people to poetry ?
  performative poetry
• Energy and creativity find expression also in
  playwriting
• Gifted with large-hearted humanity
• Divided between two cultures

3
Whos Who

• I used to think nursesWere women,I used to
  think policeWere men,I used to think poetsWere
  boring,Until I became one of them

• In this poem, Benjamin makes clear his will to
  change the dead, white and boring image of
  poetry

4
A Poet Called Benjamin

• He always played with words
• His poetry is commited but is loved by children
• Hes irriverent for the academic trappings of
  traditional written poetry ? pop poetry
• Critics dont appreciate his works

Benjamin kissing R. McGough
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How to Write a Poem

• Dont decide to write poems
• Write about subjects close to your heart
• Be honest
• Use normal speech patterns
• Speak as you were in a street
• Don't force the rhymes
• Try your poem to your friends
• Perform you poetry

6
Everybody is Doing It
IMPORTANCE OF PERFORMANCE

• In Hawaii they HulaThey Tango in
  ArgentinaThey Reggae in JamaicaAnd they Rumba
  down in Cuba,In Trinidad and TobagoThey do the
  CalypsoAnd in Spain the SpanishThey really do
  Flamenco

7
Neighbours (excerpt)
POLITICAL COMMITMENT

• I am the type you are supposed to fearBlack
  and foreignBig and dreadlocksAn uneducated
  grass eater. I talk in tonguesI chant at
  nightI appear anywhere,I sleep with lionsAnd
  when the moon gets meI am a Wailer

Benjamin and N. Mandela
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The Race Industry (excerpt)
POLITICAL COMMITMENT

• The coconuts have got the jobs.The race
  industry is a growth industry.We despairing,
  they careering.We want more peace they want more
  police.The Uncle Toms are getting paid.The race
  industry is a growth industry.

• Critical attitude toward racism (?Independence)
• Rhythm ? sing song effect

9
We Refugees
POLITICAL COMMITMENT

• I come from a musical placeWhere they shoot me
  for my songAnd my brother has been torturedBy
  my brother in my land. I come from a beautiful
  placeWhere they hate my shade of skinThey dont
  like the way I prayAnd they ban free poetry

• Importance of rhythm in poetry
• He sings the sufferings of people

10
Eat Your Words
FUNNY POEM

• I am a veggie table
• A table made of veg,
• Theres so much fruit upon me
• All living on the edge,
• Life is hard
• But so are plates
• And tea can be quite hot,
• And vegetarian poets
• Make me nervous quite a lot