Spell me freedom by Lemn Sissy (b 1968)
Spell me freedom
1. Spell me freedom
2. And make it simple
3. So when I eat
4. It shall not make me sick
5. Spell me freedom
6. And make the ingredients carefully
7. So when I drink
8. It does not make me choke
9. Spell me freedom
10. And whisper it quietly
11. So when we speak
12. It does not give me a headache
13. Spell me freedom
14. And bake it fresh
15. So when I'm thirsty
16. It shall not make me dry
17. Spell me freedom
18. And stir it quickly
19. So when I taste
20. It shall not burn my tongue
21. Spell me freedom
22. And tell the joke well
23. So that when I laugh
24. It shall not unveil into hopeless tears
25. Spell me freedom
26. and cradle each word
- That when I use them
- They shall not crack like spines
Sissay was born in Billinge in the United Kingdom.
He says, ‘I am British, of course I’m British. But being British and black are two different things…the system here doesn’t accept the Britishness of Blacks.’
Two collections of his have been published; Perceptions of the Pen and Tender Fingers in a Clenched Fist. He is a regular performer of his work and has performed his poems in South Africa.
Line 1&2
Spell me freedom
and make it simple
If you spell a word ot a person you explain to the person how the word is put together.
By asking people to spell the word ‘freedom’ the poet wants a detailed explanation of what freedom really is.
He wants the explanation of freedom to be made really simple like the spelling of a word. You either spell it correctly or incorrectly.
You either say what feedom is or your don’t.
Line 3&4
So when I eat
It shall not make me sick
When you present the definition of freedom to him, it must be something he can digest..
He compares the definition of freedom with food. When he ‘eats’ the definition it must not make him sick.
Line 5&6
Spell me freedom
And make the ingredients carefully
Freedom is compared with a dish or a drink. Freedom consists out of different aspects like a drink or dish consist out of different ingredients. These ingredients should be prepared carefully.
What freedom consist of should be stated carefully.
Line 7&8
So when I drink
It does not make me choke
When he drinks the ingredients of freedom it must not make him choke.
If you choke you are unable to speak.
If you choke literally there is an irritation in your throat.
The definition of freedom must be something that goes down smoothly.
Line 9&10
Spell me freedom
And whisper it quietly
The definition of freedoms should be so simple tat you could whisper it to someone.
A whisper is usually a very short conversation.
Line 11&12
So when we speak
It does not give me a headache
The definition of freedom should be simple and uncomplicated. It should not be so complex that when you discuss it, it gives you a headache.
Line 13&14
Spell me freedom
And bake it fresh
You should not come with an old definition of freedom. It should be as fresh as something that is newly baked.
Line 15&16
So when I’m thirsty
It shall not make me dry
The definition of freedom should quench his thirst for a satisfying definition. It should not make him more thirsty after he has heard it.
Line 17&18
Spell me freedom
And stir it quickly
Freedom must be explained as if you are stirring something. Mixing together a lot of ingredients.
Line 19&20
So when I taste it
It shall not burn my tongue
When you contemplate the definition of freedom it must be acceptable, it must not be like hot food that burns your tongue when you taste it.
Line 21&22
Spell me freedom
and tell the joke well
The poet tries to say that no one can give a definition for freedom. Those who try to only turn the definition inot a joke. the definition becomes something you can not believe. Freedom is a joke. It does not really exist.
Line 23&24
So that when I laugh
It shall not unveil into hopeless tears
Initially you may find the lack of a definition for freedom laughable. Behind the laughter there are tears. Not being able to define freedom is something to cry about and it is actually sad.
Line 25&26
Spell me freedom
And cradle each word
A baby is kept safe in a cradle
Your words defining freedom must be selected and treated as carefully as a baby that is in a cradle.
Consider every word you use very carefully.
Line 27&28
That when I use them
They shall crack like spines
The definition of freedom must be strong. If you apply the definition of freedom to life, it must work.
It must not break like a spine and leave the person paralyzed.
A spine shows strength, a weak spine is worth nothing.