Poem
Patience Agbabi
Unfinished Business
Unfinished Business
Unfinished Business
That night, it rained so hardit was biblical. The Thames sunk the promenade,
spewing up so much low life.
It’s a week since they beat up my wife,
put five holes in my daughter. I know who they are.
I know why. I’m three shots away from the parked car
in a blacked-out car park. My wife cries,
Revenge too sweet attracts flies.
Even blushed with bruises she looks good. She’s lying
on the bed, next to me. Honey, I’m fine.
Tonight I caught her, hands clasped, kneeling,
still from a crime scene.
I didn’t bring my wife to Gravesend for this.
What stops me, cowardice?
None of them, even Joe, has the right to live.
How can I forgive?
How can I forgive
none of them? Even Joe has the right to live.
What stops me, cowardice?
I didn’t bring my wife to Gravesend for this
still from a crime scene.
Tonight I caught her, hands clasped, kneeling
on the bed next to me. Honey, I’m fine.
Even blushed with bruises she looks good. She’s lying.
Revenge too sweet attracts flies
in a blacked-out car park. My wife cries.
I know why. I’m three shots away from the parked car
put five holes in my daughter. I know who they are.
It’s a week since they beat up my wife,
spewing up so much low life
it was biblical. The Thames sunk the promenade
that night, it rained so hard.
© 2011, Patience Agbabi
Patience Agbabi
(United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1965)
Patience Agbabi is one Britain’s most prominent spoken word poets and a tireless ambassador for spoken word poetry. She is also the author of three poetry collections. Her work uses the rhythms and sounds of “rap, jive and disco” (Daily Telegraph) to explore the variegations of modern culture, as well as giving voice to those who might be otherwise unheard. More unusually in the spoken word sce...
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Poems of Patience Agbabi
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Unfinished Business
That night, it rained so hardit was biblical. The Thames sunk the promenade,
spewing up so much low life.
It’s a week since they beat up my wife,
put five holes in my daughter. I know who they are.
I know why. I’m three shots away from the parked car
in a blacked-out car park. My wife cries,
Revenge too sweet attracts flies.
Even blushed with bruises she looks good. She’s lying
on the bed, next to me. Honey, I’m fine.
Tonight I caught her, hands clasped, kneeling,
still from a crime scene.
I didn’t bring my wife to Gravesend for this.
What stops me, cowardice?
None of them, even Joe, has the right to live.
How can I forgive?
How can I forgive
none of them? Even Joe has the right to live.
What stops me, cowardice?
I didn’t bring my wife to Gravesend for this
still from a crime scene.
Tonight I caught her, hands clasped, kneeling
on the bed next to me. Honey, I’m fine.
Even blushed with bruises she looks good. She’s lying.
Revenge too sweet attracts flies
in a blacked-out car park. My wife cries.
I know why. I’m three shots away from the parked car
put five holes in my daughter. I know who they are.
It’s a week since they beat up my wife,
spewing up so much low life
it was biblical. The Thames sunk the promenade
that night, it rained so hard.
Unfinished Business
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