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A review by 2treads
Border Zone by John Agard
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Absolutely Stellar!!! I gwine reread it right now.
I've come a long way
from ribbons
on spears
and garlands
of feathers
heading a fanfare
of tribal others.
...
for I too have heard of that feeling
called national pride
from the well-informed lips
of the transatlantic winds
that keep me flapping
as well as up-to-date
on history's shifting weight,
excerpt from Flag Speaks
πππππ
Agard certainly has a way with rhythm and words and how to effectively use both to chat history, love, migration, reactions, and interactions. He is speaking with the voice of immigrant, Caribbean lover, fighter, and rebel, so it is difficult to not be swept up in the issues he raises, overturns and spins on their heads.
πππππ
He takes us from city to countryside, to manor and bridge, from legacy to discrepancy, using the markets, streets, biscuits, and even the river Thames to trace the morphing face of Britain. He speaks to colonialism and its remnants, to the empire, to former poets and persons of letters, allowing us to share in his thoughts on their legacy.
πππππ
I could feel the vibrations of dub and the smooth flow and cadence of spoken word as I read these poems and it just swept me up in a cascade of feeling. What I absolutely enjoyed is the sensual rudeness that some poems exuded that just resonated with Caribbean flare and style. His wit shines through brilliantly and if you love poetry this is a collection for you.
I've come a long way
from ribbons
on spears
and garlands
of feathers
heading a fanfare
of tribal others.
...
for I too have heard of that feeling
called national pride
from the well-informed lips
of the transatlantic winds
that keep me flapping
as well as up-to-date
on history's shifting weight,
excerpt from Flag Speaks
πππππ
Agard certainly has a way with rhythm and words and how to effectively use both to chat history, love, migration, reactions, and interactions. He is speaking with the voice of immigrant, Caribbean lover, fighter, and rebel, so it is difficult to not be swept up in the issues he raises, overturns and spins on their heads.
πππππ
He takes us from city to countryside, to manor and bridge, from legacy to discrepancy, using the markets, streets, biscuits, and even the river Thames to trace the morphing face of Britain. He speaks to colonialism and its remnants, to the empire, to former poets and persons of letters, allowing us to share in his thoughts on their legacy.
πππππ
I could feel the vibrations of dub and the smooth flow and cadence of spoken word as I read these poems and it just swept me up in a cascade of feeling. What I absolutely enjoyed is the sensual rudeness that some poems exuded that just resonated with Caribbean flare and style. His wit shines through brilliantly and if you love poetry this is a collection for you.