Benjamin Zephaniah has died

[Glitterbiscuits]

I just read this.

I always found him interesting. I think it probably because I'm a white woman that grew up in a white area I needed to hear about the experiences of others whose lives were different from mine.

So sad to hear this, he had an amazing voice, so mesmerising

Learnt and loved his poetry at school. Such cadence! RIP

No!!

Such a talent and such a caring man.

He did once say he regretted slapping his girlfriend because it made meditation difficult...

Such a sad loss. He was a wonderful poet and orator and a fine human being who lived his principles and publicly rejected an OBE.

Rest in peace Benjamin and blessings on you.

@AfraidToRun oh no! I never heard that.

Ah, I loved his poetry. What a loss. RIP.

Oh no what a shock.

How awful - such a lovely man. 😞

I'm absolutely gutted. I had a little cry when I read the news, which is not like me.

I lived for ten years in Handsworth and he felt like an old neighbour, even though I'd never met him.

If you haven't read his autobiography, I would really recommend. It's so funny and vivid. An incredible man with real principles, intelligence and humour. So young, too. He will be massively missed.

BZ the domestic abuser? Be careful who you put on a pedestal.

I'm so sorry, what a loss. Bloody cancer.

Nobody is perfect I think we can all acknowledge that whilst also celebrating the good that a person has also done in their life and their contribution to society.

Noooo! I’m genuinely shocked and saddened, amazing poet and all round good bloke. Eight weeks from diagnosis to passing away is just so shocking. His poor family, poor him.

Very sad news. He achieved so much.

I am quite shocked tbh. How very sudden

I'm a Brummie and I remember meeting him when I was 11. He did a poetry reading at the local library and he was wonderful. A sad loss to the world and to our wonderful city. Rest in peace.

That's so sad!😢

I remember going to watch him read his poetry on a trip for GCSE English. He was mesmerising.

oh I am very sorry to read this, only 65. This is a sad loss, thinking of his family and friends. What a talented writer he was.

Oh no i allways hoped i would meet him or get to know him one day.

i found him charismatic, Witty came across as interesting character

I like poetry and am part of creative writing poetry arts circle myself
Caribbean culture heritage i am from too...

😢

he will always be remembered by me for GCSE English, Anthology

Talking Turkeys
Be nice to yu turkeys dis christmas
Cos’ turkeys just wanna hav fun
Turkeys are cool, turkeys are wicked
An every turkey has a Mum.
Be nice to yu turkeys dis christmas,
Don’t eat it, keep it alive,
It could be yu mate, an not on your plate
Say, Yo! Turkey I’m on your side.
I got lots of friends who are turkeys
An all of dem fear christmas time,
Dey wanna enjoy it, dey say humans destroyed it
An humans are out of dere mind,
Yeah, I got lots of friends who are turkeys
Dey all hav a right to a life,
Not to be caged up an genetically made up
By any farmer an his wife.

Turkeys just wanna play reggae
Turkeys just wanna hip-hop
Can yu imagine a nice young turkey saying,
‘I cannot wait for de chop’,
Turkeys like getting presents, dey wanna watch christmas TV,
Turkeys hav brains an turkeys feel pain
In many ways like yu an me.

I once knew a turkey called…Turkey
He said “Benji explain to me please,
Who put de turkey in christmas
An what happens to christmas trees?”,
I said “I am not too sure turkey
But itÕs nothing to do wid Christ Mass
Humans get greedy an waste more dan need be
An business men mek loadsa cash’.

Be nice to yu turkey dis christmas
Invite dem indoors fe sum greens
Let dem eat cake an let dem partake
In a plate of organic grown beans,
Be nice to yu turkey dis christmas
An spare dem de cut of de knife,
Join Turkeys United an dey’ll be delighted
An yu will mek new friends ‘FOR LIFE’.

He was the guest on a really good episode of Poetry Please (radio 4) a week or so ago, it was a delight to listen to.

BBC Radio 4 - Poetry Please, Benjamin Zephaniah