Rong Radio

I don't hide my dislike for poems, particularly those that the poet utilised almost all the figures of speech. They turned a literal piece to be enjoyed into a study pack. Still there were some that stand out and "Rong Radio" by Benjamin Zephaniah was one of it. You read it and feel you had learnt and not one of those that made you feel you were yet to learn.
This was definitely one of my favourite poems.

Rong Radio

My ears are battered and burned and I've just learned
I've been listening to the rong radio station
My mind has been brutalised
now the pain cant be disguised
I've been listening to the rong radio station
I was beginning to believe that all black men were bad men
and white men would reign again
I was beginning to believe that I was a mindless drug freak
who couldnt control my sanity or my sexuality.
I was beginning to beleive that I couldnt believe in nothing
except nothing and al I ever wanted to do was get you
and do you
I've been listening to the rong radio station
My future has been blighted I am so so excited
I've been listening to the rong radio station.
I was beginning to not trust me
infact I wanted to arrest me
I've been listening to the rong radio station
I've been dancing to music that I can't stand
I've been reciting commericals to my girlfriend
I've been trying to convince myself that what I really need
Is a sunbed and a mortgage and some hairspray, the kind of hairspray
that will wash my grey-blues away.
I've been trying to convince myself that I shouldnt care
about anyone else but myself
I've been trying to convince myself that I could ease my conscience
if I gave a few pence or a few cents to a starving baby in Africa
Because African babies need me so
because African babaies need my favours
because Africa is full of dictators
And oh yeah, globalisation
will bring salvation
I've been listening to the rong radio station
I thought my neighbours were the Axis of Evil
I wanna go kill people
I've been listening to the rong radio station
I was sure I didnt inhale, so why is my mind going stale?
I've been listening to the rong radio station
I was beginning to believe that all muslims were terrorists
and Christian terrorists didnt exist
I really did believe that terrorism couldn't be done by governments
not our governments
not white governments
I just could not see what was wrong with me
I gave hungry people hamburgers you see
I was beginning to believe that our children were better than their children
their children were dying from terrorism
but I couldnt hear their children call
and a child from Palestine
simply didnt count at all
walk this way
no children I was not aware
I've been listening to the rong radio station
For years I've been sedated now I think Im educated
I've been listening to the rong radio station
And everytime I got ill
I took the same little white pill
I've been listening to the rong radio station
When it started I was curious
but then it got so serious
It was cool when it began
but now I really hate Iran
And look at me now I want to make friends with Pakistan
I want to bomb Afghanistan
and I need someone to tell me
Where the hell is Kurdhistan
Yeah you can be me ally for a while
Until I come to bomb your child
And Im sure there is a continent called the Middle East
and I think that I can
Bomb my way to peace
I've been listening to the rong radio station
I've been listening to the wrong chants
I've been listening to the rong beats
I've been listening to the rong radio station
I've been listening to the rong tones
from the rong zones
I've been listening to the rong radio station
I've been listening to the rong voices
I've made mad choices
I've been listening to the rong radio station
I've been listening to lies,
I've been listening to spies
I've been listening to the rong radio station
I needed to know what some popstar somewhere
was having for breakfast
I needed to know that I was no longer working class
I needed to know if the stock market rose 1%
I needed to know that I had a ruler to give me confidence
I needed to know that my life would improve loads
if I had an operation on my nose
I needed to hear that DJ say
Good morning, Good morning
I felt that he was there just for me
I loved the way that he would say
This show is sponsored by
Oh buy, oh buy - he made me cry
I've been listening to the rong radio station
Can you dig this?
I put myself on a hit list
I've been listening to the rong radio station
I used to take myself for granted
Now I believe I'm wanted
I'm laughing and I'm crying cos I'm watching myself dying
I've been listening to the rong radio station
Can you hear?
Listen to me
Keep this frequency clear!!