'Dis Poem' continued in Muta's mind

'Dis Poem' is an epic, enigmatic two-minute-and-49 second journey into the thoughts of poet Mutabaruka.

Though originally released without music on his third studio album, The Mystery Unfolds, released through Shanacie Records in 1986, several persons have put the original vocals of 'Dis Poem' to music by other persons several times, Mutabaruka saying "so far me count 15 different mix".

The phrase "dis poem" starts and is repeated over 30 times in the poem. As it is coming to a close, Mutabaruka writes:

"You need to know what will be said next in dis poem

Dis poem shall disappoint you

Because

Dis poem is to be continued in your mind

In your mind

In your mind

Your mind."

It may seem obvious that Mutabaruka is telling the audience that the poem shall stay with them forever. After all, previous lines say "dis poem shall survive you, me it shall linger in history/in your mind/in time forever". But Mutabaruka says that it is really his mind that he is saying 'Dis Poem' will be continued in.

He had written about a lot, after starting "dis poem shall speak the wretched sea/that washed ships to these shores". He writes:

"Dis poem shall call names

Names like Lumumba, Kenyatta, Nkrumah,

Hannibal, Akenaton, Malcolm, Garvey,

Haile Selassie

Dis poem is vexed about apartheid, racism, fascism

the Klu Klux klan riots in Brixton Atlanta

Jim Jones

Dis poem is revoltin against First World, second world,

Third World division man-made decision."

"Me a write this poem and there are so much things mi want to mention," Mutabaruka said. "At the time, it was the longest poem mi write. And the more me a write, the more mi a think bout other tings. Eventually, mi say mi going to stop. Mi did want to write other t'ings, but mi nuh want to write no more.

"Not wanting to write an anthology me just stop the poem," he said.

This is in keeping with his general approach, as Mutabaruka said, "Most of the time, mi write poem, me write it for myself first." So he writes:

"Dis poem shall be called boring stupid, senseless

Dis poem is watchin you tryin to make sense from dis poem

Dis poem is messin up your brains

Makin you want to stop listenin to dis poem

But you shall not stop listenin to dis poem."

"All me want to say in your mind already," Mutabaruka said. "The other things in my mind." And he says that: "You a try find something in the poem, but what in the poem is coming from my mind. A me mi really a write the poem for."

Wryly, Mutabaruka writes:

"dis poem will not be amongst great literary works

will not be recited by poetry enthusiasts

will not be quoted by politicians nor men of religion"

"Is such a weird thing call out these things. Why would a politician quote it, or someone else?" Mutabaruka asked. Chances are, also, the "men of religion" would not be enthused about the juxtaposition of holy and carnal text, as Mutabaruka writes, "dis poem was copied from the Bible your prayer book/Playboy magazine".

And for the line "dis poem is old, new", Mutabaruka says, "So much t'ings did come to mi when mi did a write it."

The Mystery Unfolds, including 'Dis Poem', was recorded at Tuff Gong on Marcus Garvey Drive, St Andrew, and is the only one of the 12 tracks to be done without music. He said, "Every time me do a album, me put poem that nuh have nuh music. I am a poet before a musician. The poet is really of the word, not the music. The music is there to complement the poem."

Also on The Mystery Unfolds are 'The Leaders Speak', 'Revolutionary Words', 'My Great Sun', 'Famine Injection' and 'The Eyes of Liberty'. Mutabaruka points out that, "Ironically, is me produce my album. You pay musician to play the music and the one that no have no music is the biggest hit."