Biographical Poetry

Medina, Tony. 2009. I and I. Ill. by Jesse Joshua Watson. New York: Lee & Low Books, Inc. ISBN: 978-1-60060-257-3.

Book Reviews:

In I and I, author Tony Medina creatively provides a way for a new generation to learn about reggae music and the message of peace promoted by singer Bob Marley.  The title “I and I” refers to the Jamaican use of the words which can mean a reference to oneself, the unity of God (whom the Rastafarian’s call “Jah”), or the plural “we.” 

The book opens with an author’s note that provides an excellent summary of Bob Marley and his music.  It then goes on to present the story of the singer’s life in chronological order in a series of verse and rhyming poems filled with the colloquial patois of Jamaica. Medina prepares the reader for the poems by saying, “Bob Marley was a messenger-poet-musician in the tradition of the West African griot, who passes on the history of his people and comments on current events through story-telling and song.” The author weaves Marley’s lyrics into his poems, but those unfamiliar with the songs may not recognize them.

Jesse Joshua Watson’s realistic acrylic paintings accompany each poem, showing the lush beauty as well as the abject poverty in which Marley grew up.  The expressive faces shown in the illustrations provide the reader with a visual representation of the characters referenced in the poems.

Born to a white English soldier father and a Jamaican mother, Marley was raised by his mother’s people in an area called Nine Miles. The singer was very aware of his biracial heritage and struggled with discrimination because of it. “Papa is a white man, so I’ve been told/My map a face of Africa in Europe’s hold.” Marley’s experiences with poverty and oppression in his early years and his exposure to blues, jazz, R& B, along with Jamaican ska, impacted his music.  Medina writes, “Be the voice of the voiceless/Bring some happiness and/Consciousness to the down-pressed/Through our redemption songs.”

Marley used his music to send a message of peace in a time of political unrest in his country and that opened up a chance for him to travel all over the world in the 80’s sharing his vision of justice and equality wherever he went. “My songs cry out that Black blood shall spill no more/And that African unity/Must increase/War is a cancer that turns/Everything upside down/Love is the answer/Where peace is found.” Marley was awarded the United Nations Medal of Peace in 1978.

Though Bob Marley died very young, at age 36, his music and the legend of his life continue to live on in succeeding generations. His message was simple and his music had wide appeal.  “I am a Rasta man/a troubadour for everyman/singing what a Rasta sings/one love, one heart, one song.” 

Tony Medina’s love-song to Bob Marley in I and I is a tremendous undertaking; however, the poems would have a wider appeal if he had included the end notes for each poem on the poem’s page, rather than at the end of the book.  Including the biographical information with each poem would give the reader a fuller understanding of what the author was trying to express in his poetry.

Sharing the Poetry:

Using biographies in school curriculum is very popular, and for good reason.  Students have an opportunity to learn research techniques with both print materials and e-resources, are exposed to historical figures and events and can practice their writing skills.  Giving students a chance to learn about musical legends such as Bob Marley would be a nice change from researching presidents, inventors and scientists. 

Selected Poem:

Most of the poems in I and I are fairly long. The final poem in the book, “Song in my Heart” nicely summarizes the story of the life of Bob Marley and his music.

Song in My Heart

I am the boy

          From Nine Miles

The one sing

          Like three little birds

                   In a reggae style

The one blessed

          By Jah

                   To travel miles

Across the world

          With my island girl

                   Guitar in hand

And my dreads

          Atwirl

With music

          In my belly

And songs

          In my heart

Healing the world

          With my reggae art

Keeping you always

          Like a song

                   In my heart

  

 References

Books in Print. n.d. I and I. http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2125/DetailedView.aspx?hreciid=|25043023|23620477&mc=USA# (accessed April 1, 2014).