The Death Of Joy Gardner

They put a leather belt around her

13 feet of tape and bound her

Handcuffs to secure her

And only God knows what else,

She's illegal, so deport her

Said the Empire that brought her

She died,

Nobody killed her

And she never killed herself.

It is our job to make her

Return to Jamaica

Said the Alien Deporters

Who deports people like me,

It was said she had a warning

That the officers were calling

On that deadly July morning

As her young son watched TV.

An officer unplugged the phone

Mother and child were now alone

When all they wanted was a home

A child watch Mummy die,

No matter what the law may say

A mother should not die this way

Let human rights come into play

And to everyone apply.

I know not of a perfect race

I know not of a perfect place

I know this is not a simple case

Of Yardies on the move,

We must talk some Race Relations

With the folks from immigration

About this kind of deportation

If things are to improve.

Let it go down in history

The word is that officially

She died democratically

In 13 feet of tape,

That Christian was over here

Because pirates were over there

The Bible sent us everywhere

To make Great Britain great.

Here lies the extradition squad

And we should all now pray to God

That as they go about their job

They make not one mistake,

For I fear as I walk the streets

That one day I just may meet

Officials who may tie my feet

And how would I escape.

I see my people demonstrating

And educated folks debating

The way they're separating

The elder from the youth,

When all they are demanding

Is a little overstanding

They too have family planning

Now their children want the truth.

As I move around I am eyeing

So many poets crying

And so many poets trying

To articulate the grief,

I cannot help but wonder

How the alien deporters

(As they said to press reporters)

Can feel absolute relief.