Product Description

A selection of Linton Kwesi Johnson's poems over three decades. Ranging from protests against police brutality to eulogies for departed friends and playful celebrations of urban life, Johnson's use of Jamaican dialect to tackle distinctly British subjects contributed to a revolution in the notion of literary English. Mi Revalueshanary Fren charts the unique literary talent of one of Britain's most influential poets and social critics.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #243563 in Books
• Published on: 2002-05-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

About the Author
Linton Kwesi Johnson was born in Jamica in 1952. He came to Britain in 1963. Educated at the University of London, he was awarded a C Day Lewis Fellowship in 1977. Johnson's first collection Voices of the Living and the Dead was published in 1974 and he went on to published four collections of poetry and a number of albums. Johnson continues to perform internationally and his work has been translated into italian and German.

Customer Reviews

Matter Of Fact
In 1984, aged 14, I was introduced to the work of LKJ by my brother who brought home a copy of LKJ's vinyl album 'Making History'. We were big fans of U2, who were also Chris Blackwell "artistes". I've been listening to oblique reading LKJ ever since. As for the '2, well let's just say they went pop. And this slim volume Mi Revalueshanary Fren I have picked up and read every other day since I got it, especially 'seasons of the heart' and 'inglan is a bitch'. the book's paucity of words makes the contrasts all the more complete. But that paucity is a spareness, sometimes terse. Honesty

The real Poet Laureate
As well as a fine selection of Johnson's dub poetry this splendid collection includes some of his more conventional works. Leaves you wanting more - much more. Johnson's compelling style means that anything he puts his mind to becomes a fascinating subject for a poem - all aspects of human experience are here.

the poet laureate of black british/carribean people
His works cross from the racial tender box of the 70's to the 90's althoug i personnally feel the most the earliy works have the most passion but how could that be anyway with the brixton riots and the sus laws pre-dating that.
My personnel favourite is sonny's letter:
Linton Kwesi Johnson - Forces of Victory
CCD 9566 (Track 3)
Mango ® (P) 1979 Island Records

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

listen to him his production adds to his already powerful words