Penny Reel Poem

by Jan 2, 2023Art, Articles

Penny Reel Poem
In 1978, the year Virgin Records launched the reggae label Frontline as its subsidiary, they released Tapper Zukie’s 9-track LP Peace In The Ghetto with tunes titled The City Of Mount Zion, Tribute To Steve Biko, Praise Jah In Gladness, and Peace In The City. The LP was produced by David Sinclair aka Tapper Zukie and Bunny “Striker” Lee. On the back of the album’s cover there’s a poem by journalist and music writer Peter Simons, better known as Penny Reel, which contains lyrics used for the track Peace In The City. Not really surprising that a poem by Penny Reel is featured on the back as he got to know Tapper Zukie and so many other artists very well. Besides that he loved poetry and his first book was a book of poems.

Peace in The City

Is this a dream or is it something for real?

Peace pon the Rema man corner.
Peace pon the Jungle man corner.
Peace pon the Tivoli corner.
Peace pon the Lizard Town corner.
Peace pon the Betterton corner.
Who seh so?
Brother Claudie seh so!
Who seh so?
Claudie Massop seh so!

Meno see you as no rema man.
Bredda, me no see you as no Jungle man.
Bredda, me no see you as no Tivoli man.
Man, seh me see you as mi black bredda.
And me see mi sister as mis black sister.
Peace pon everyone corner.

Great man step forward and put ‘im foot upon the sand.
Great hero.
Young hero.
Claudie Massop.
Buckie Thompson.
Tony Welch.
Who seh so?
Brother Claudie seh so!
Who seh so?
Claudie Massop seh so!

‘Im are the living hero.
Young black hero, come from the ghetto.
Young black hero, said ‘im grow up in the ghetto.
Said them send ‘im to prison so many time,
And I know ‘im was innocent.
But Lord, Jag give ‘im the victory you know
To get up and come forward.
Such a great hero.
Claudie Massop – the living hero.
Who seh so?
Tapper Zukie seh so…

Penny Reel

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