Sonny's Lettah (anti-sus Poem) Lyrics - Forces Of Victory - Linton Kwesi Johnson

Dear Mama 

Good day 

I hope that when these few lines reach you 

They may find you in the best of health 

I doun know how to tell ya dis 

For I did mek a solemn promise 

To tek care a lickle Jim 

An try mi bes fi look out fi him 

Mama, I really did try mi bes 

But none a di less 

Sorry fi tell ya seh, poor lickle Jim get arres 

It was de miggle a di rush hour 

Hevrybody jus a hustle and a bustle 

To go home fi dem evenin' shower 

Mi an Jim stan up waitin' pon a bus 

Not causin' no fuss 

When all of a sudden a police van pull up 

Out jump tree policemen 

De whole a dem carryin' baton 

Dem walk straight up to me and Jim 

One a dem hold on to Jim 

Seh dem tekin' him in 

Jim tell him fi leggo a him 

For him nah do nutt'n 

And 'im nah t'ief, not even a but'n 

Jim start to wriggle 

De police start to giggle 

Mama, mek I tell you wa dem do to Jim? 

Mek I tell you wa dem do to 'im? 

Dem thump him him in him belly and it turn to jelly 

Dem lick 'im pon 'im back and 'im rib get pop 

Dem thump him pon him head but it tough like lead 

Dem kick 'im in 'im seed and it started to bleed 

Mama, I jus couldn't stan up deh, nah do nuttin' 

So mi jook one in him eye and him started fi cry 

Me thump him pon him mout and him started fi shout 

Me kick him pon him shin so him started fi spin 

Me hit him pon him chin an him drop pon a bin 

An crash, an dead 

More policeman come dung 

Dem beat me to the grung 

Dem charge Jim fi sus 

Dem charge mi fi murdah 

Mama, doan fret 

Doan get depress an downhearted 

Be of good courage till I hear from you 

I remain 

Your son 

Sonny