6 Must-Read John Agard Poems

John Agard is a Guyanese poet who now resides in Britain. He was chosen for the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry in 2012. Much of his work pertains to the diasporic experience, racism and the legacy of colonialism. His collections include Shoot Me With Flowers, Mangoes and Bullets: Selected and New Poems 1972–84, No Hickory, No Dickory, No Dock, and A Stone’s Throw from Embankment: The South Bank Collection.

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Checking Out Me History

‘Checking Out Me History’ confronts colonial education, celebrating unsung heroes of black history through vibrant dialect.

One of Agard's most famous poems, 'Checking Out Me History' is regularly taught in schools throughout the UK. Its exploration of the manner in which history is taught and excluded exposes the British education system for its lack of diversity and its failure to treat the past fairly. Agard's narration uses both humour and absurd comparisons to demonstrates the lengths the system goes to in order to avoid teaching black history.

Dem tell me

Dem tell me

Wha dem want to tell me

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Form: Free Verse

Genre: Humor

"> 86/100

Listen Mr. Oxford Don

John Agard’s ‘Listen Mr. Oxford Don’ subverts traditional ideas about correct usage of the English language, immigration and cultural heritage.

'Listen Mr. Oxford Don' is undeniably one of Agard's best poems and demonstrates many of the preoccupations that define his poetic output. The poem challenges the rigidity of the English language, which is guarded by a small minority of almost exclusively white voices. Agard's use of phonetics helps break down the language and showcases how it can be used in many different ways.

Me not no Oxford don

me a simple immigrant

from Clapham Common

I didn’t graduate

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Half-Caste

John Agard’s poem ‘Half-caste’ is a poem that is, in a majority, filled with the speaker responding to being called half-caste.

John Agard is a well-respected writer known for his work in poetry, storytelling, drama, and children’s literature. His poem ‘Half-Caste’ stands out as the one he’s most famous for, often included in school curriculums. It directly speaks to the unfairness of labeling people as “half” anything. Agard uses humor and sarcasm to challenge these harmful ideas. The poem leaves a strong impression because it defends identity in a way that’s both bold and thought-provoking.

Excuse me
Standing on one leg
I'm half-caste
Explain yuself

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Flag

‘Flag’ explores the deep symbolism of national flags, revealing how a simple cloth can evoke pride, nostalgia, and even conflict.

What’s that fluttering in a breeze?

Its just a piece of cloth

that brings a nation to its knees.

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The Clown’s Wife

‘The Clown’s Wife’ by John Agard explores the theme of duality through a wife speaking about her clown husband and herself.

About my husband, the clown,

What could I say?

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The Soldiers Came

‘The Soldiers Came’ captures the haunting aftermath of war, using stark imagery and deep emotion to craft a powerful, relatable piece.

The soldiers came

and dropped their bombs.

The soldiers didn't take long

to bring the forest down.

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6 Must-Read John Agard Poems

Checking Out Me History

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Half-Caste

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