Benjamin Zephaniah

[Theland]

Benjamin Zephaniah, ''poet,'' (sic) and professor of poetry at Bristol University.
How do those ABers who know and appreciate poetry rate his work?
My cursory look at just a bit of his output left me confused.

[Theland]

https://youtu.be/F6dqLN7mkjk
His political voice seems infantile.

[Sunk]

That was a good answer. Better than you would get from a politician.

Not heard any of his recent poetry, but I saw him perform a few times at the start of his career, and I rated him then.

[TheChair]

Can't see that there is a connection between the quality of his work and the video you've linked to.
What he says in the video makes a lot of sense.

[10ClarionSt]

I think he said exactly what I did at the time of the referendum. I didn't vote either way because it won't make any difference whether we're in or we're out of Europe. The ordinary man in the street will still get screwed. Lots of people are glad that we're leaving, for various reasons but either way, we're being had over.

[MallyJ]

I think he is great. I like the way he thinks and his concern for others and the environment. I rate his poetry highly. Perhaps you should make more than a cursory glance and get to know his work and what he is saying. Of course each of us has to make up our own minds.

[Mozz71]

The fact that you put the "sic" in after the word "poet" kind of indicates that your mind is already made up.

He's very clever, but no John Cooper Clark.

[CrapAtCryptics]

Never really had that much time for modern poetry, like those whinge sessions that accompany a certain banks adverts.

[bobbinwales]

There's something here a just cant put my finger on.as to why he cant be a proper poet for you...
He was pretty good last time he was on TV- think it was a lockdown/NHS poem

[emmie]

i don't get his poetry to be honest and have tried, as to John Cooper Clark he seems to be a shadow of the early years.

[emmie]

Then again i don't get much poetry, have given it my best shot, though i did come across some from the WW1 years and was affected by those

[woofgang]

I find this one interesting
The Race Industry
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.
We say sisters and brothers don’t fear.
They will do anything for the Mayor.
The coconuts have got the jobs.
The race industry is a growth industry.
They’re looking for victims and poets to rent.
They represent me without my consent.
The Uncle Toms are getting paid.
The race industry is a growth industry.
In suits they dither in fear of anarchy.
They take our sufferings and earn a salary.
Steal our souls and make their documentaries.
Inform daily on our community.
Without Black suffering they’d have no jobs.
Without our dead they’d have no office.
Without our tears they’d have no drink.
If they stopped sucking we could get justice.
The coconuts are getting paid.
Men, women and Brixton are being betrayed.

not sure why you say " "poet" (sic) or what his political views have got to do with his quality (or not) as a poet

[woofgang]

I know he has his fans, but I really do not get John Cooper Clark and never have. But chacun and so on

[Peter Pedant]

if it made sense it would be prose

[Peter Pedant]

// as to why he cant be a proper poet for you...// like Pam Ayres

now that is what I call poetry

[Theland]

Rhyming is lacking, and he certainly has an agenda.
His poetry is not for me.

[woofgang]

Every single poet and writer who has ever lived has had an agenda......I would go further and say that pretty much every sentient being has an agenda

[Theland]

Woolf, his politics are I'll thought out and infantile in my humble opinion.

[Ringlet]

My grandchildren love his poems for children, as do I.
"Talking Turkeys" is brilliant.

[Mamyalynne]

I like Benjamin generally, he doesn't pretend to be anyone but himself - an ordinary man.

Like any Poet, I don't rate all of his work but most of it stands up well to scrutiny.

[Theland]

I must look at it again.