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Translation
Sonny's Letter
From Brixton Prison, Jebb Avenue London S.W. 2 England
Dear Mama,
good day
I hope that when these few lines reach you they may
find you in the best of health
I don't know how to tell you this
for I did make a solemn promise
to take care of little Jim
and try my best to look out for him
Mama, I really did try my best
but nonetheless
sorry to tell you so, poor little Jim got arrested
it was in the middle of the rush hour
everybody just hustling and bustling
to go home for their evening shower
me and Jim stood waiting for a bus
not causing any fuss
when all of a sudden a police van pulled up
out jumped three policemen
all of them carrying batons
they walked straight up to me and Jim
one of them held on to Jim
said they were taking him in
Jim told him to let go of him
for he had not done anything
and he was no thief, not even a button
Jim started to wriggle
the police started to giggle
Mama, may I tell you what they did to Jim?
may I tell you what they did to him?
They thumped him in his belly and it turned to jelly
They beat him on his back and his rib broke
They thumped him on his head but it's tough like lead
They kicked him in his seat and it started to bleed
Mama, I just couldn't stand there, doing nothing
So I jugged one in the eye and he started to cry
I thumped him on his mouth and he started to shout
I kicked him on his shin so he started to spin
I hit him on his chin and he dropped upon a bin
- and crash, and dead
More policemen came down
they beat me to the ground
they charged Jim for sus1
they charged me for murder
Mama, don't fret
don't get depressed and downhearted
be of good courage
until I hear from you
I remain
Your son,
Sonny
- 1. until the so-called sus law was repealed in 1981 "suspious persons" could be stopped, searched and imprisoned for up to three months http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sus_law
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