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SPECIALISTS IN AFRICAN AND CARIBBEAN LITERATURE SINCE 1966

Diane Abbott stares down a jester…

Ishaq Imruh Bakari

a most eloquent voice

has spoken from the decorated

anchored in his honours

a bona fide member of empire

has spoken from his pedestal

there is no need now to shout

back or front it is what it is

with help from hooded tabloids

all is fair if draped in Christian

prayer and writ of right to own

a most generous soul

among financial pillars

the jester is no jester

he knows the stakes are high

he knows the loss of stock pains

the mind and empty heritage chest

he knows the stare of nostalgia

he knows the sight of an empty mirror

filled with attic fantasies from a plantation

he knows the bluffing has to end

he knows the auction block is all

that will remain of his coliseum

he knows the catechism is no more

he knows the cat of nine tails has only one

useless life waiting to be pampered as a pet

with the spittle shared

among the apologetic

the jester is no jester

he is a moderate

in the party politic

he is graceful

all is rag and bone

behind the brawn / behind the bristle

from his ambulance of savings

furious / flustered

he rides a stinking headwind

with cudgel and consorted

kings and queens and devils

the jester is no jester

he is a joker in the pack

the penny farthing hustler

he is a graveyard coal

shovel dancing as a clown

stare it down / stare it down

it-is-a-dancing-clown

Mar24

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