Benjamin Zephaniah: Writer and poet dies aged 65
A statement posted on his Instagram account said he was diagnosed with a brain tumour eight weeks ago.
www.bbc.co.uk
Sad news.
Got something to say or just want fewer pesky ads? Join us... 😊
[News] Benjamin Zephaniah RIP
- Thread starter Titanic
- Start date
Sad news.
nicko31
Well-known member
Bloody hell, thats tragic
RIP
RIP
Horses Arse
Well-known member
Very sad - great guy and so young.
Hotchilidog
Well-known member
- Jan 24, 2009
- 8,718
Very sad news. A really nice human being
Monkey Man
Your support is not that great
That's very sad. A man who used his short time on the planet in a very positive way.
I’m shocked by this. What sad news. A genuine good egg and talent. RIP
I’ve never heard of him until now but if @Herr Tubthumper says they were a good talent then may he rest in peace
You have to look beyond the face
to see the person true,
Deep down within my inner space
I am the same as you;
I've counted since that fire burnt
the many lessons I have learnt.
You have to talk to me and not
the skin that holds me in,
I took the wisdom that I got
to make sure I would win;
I'm counting weaker folk than me
who look but truly cannot see.
I've seen compassion from the blind
who think with open eyes,
It's those that judge me quick you'll find
are those that are unwise;
why judge the face that I have on
just value my opinion
Friends will come and friends will go,
now I need friends who feel.
My friends have changed so much and so,
I make sure they are real;
I took the ride and paid the price,
I can't afford to do that twice.
I came to here from ignorance
I cannot call it bliss,
and now I know the importance
of loving me like this;
To leave behind that backward state
of judging looks is very great.
I'm beautiful,
I'm beautiful
this minor fact I know,
I tell you It's incredible
near death has made me grow;
Look at me, smile, you are now seeing
a great thing called a human being.
to see the person true,
Deep down within my inner space
I am the same as you;
I've counted since that fire burnt
the many lessons I have learnt.
You have to talk to me and not
the skin that holds me in,
I took the wisdom that I got
to make sure I would win;
I'm counting weaker folk than me
who look but truly cannot see.
I've seen compassion from the blind
who think with open eyes,
It's those that judge me quick you'll find
are those that are unwise;
why judge the face that I have on
just value my opinion
Friends will come and friends will go,
now I need friends who feel.
My friends have changed so much and so,
I make sure they are real;
I took the ride and paid the price,
I can't afford to do that twice.
I came to here from ignorance
I cannot call it bliss,
and now I know the importance
of loving me like this;
To leave behind that backward state
of judging looks is very great.
I'm beautiful,
I'm beautiful
this minor fact I know,
I tell you It's incredible
near death has made me grow;
Look at me, smile, you are now seeing
a great thing called a human being.
Austrian Gull
Well-known member
He came to talk to the pupils at a school I worked at in England - he was a nice, friendly guy.
vegster
Sanity Clause
- May 5, 2008
- 27,897
He was an amazing man, he came through so much adversity in his life yet was not broken by it. Saw him at the Connaught in Worthing a few years back, reading his poetry and just talking ...... I really did not think he would be popular in blue rinse Tory Worthing but, there was a great turn out and at the end he was cheered off. I'm feeling genuinely sad that we've lost one of the Good Guys... RIP Benjamin.
Green Cross Code Man
Wunt be druv
Well I'm shocked, didn't realize he was ill. A great person and a talented bloke.
Publius Ovidius
Well-known member
Wow that has hit me hard. I was a great fan of him and his poetry and always thought what a genuine person who was.
8 weeks from being told he had a brain tumour until he died. That is truly shocking
65 is no age!
8 weeks from being told he had a brain tumour until he died. That is truly shocking
65 is no age!
Sad news. RIP.
Monkey Man
Your support is not that great
Here's a piece he wrote for the Guardian this time last year about his new year's resolution for 2023. It's about veganism, on the face of it, but it gives you a real sense of the guy's all-round humanity.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeand...e-i-dont-eat-animals-thing-ill-do-differently
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeand...e-i-dont-eat-animals-thing-ill-do-differently
Thank you. We can discuss the merits of his poetry etc but to leave school the age of 13 unable to read and write and become a successful poet and author (he was a commercially successful children’s author as well as a poet) is quite amazing.
Something else I always like about his work is that he gets serious messages across with wit and without any bitterness
He was one of the best communicators I've ever heard.
About twenty five years ago I attended a conference about future tech and how it was going to change the world and make our lives amazing.
BZ was there as the sort of cultural antidote.
The conference was in the North East of England.
I remember towards the end of the day BZ took to the stage to deliver a poem and before he did so he just said to all these tech hipster types.
"You guys are talking about how tech is going to do this and that and yet down the road there's a family that can't afford a joint of meat."
It was a priceless reminder.
And still there's families that can't afford a joint of meat.
BZ was there as the sort of cultural antidote.
The conference was in the North East of England.
I remember towards the end of the day BZ took to the stage to deliver a poem and before he did so he just said to all these tech hipster types.
"You guys are talking about how tech is going to do this and that and yet down the road there's a family that can't afford a joint of meat."
It was a priceless reminder.
And still there's families that can't afford a joint of meat.