Classified
we do not know the name black boy aged twelve well-set
with a good grasp of english has run described as agreeable
no vices the young fellow believed to be between eleven
and fifteen has been reported missing from listed address
in the west london area physical description states child
is well-proportioned wooly hair close to head like crown if anyone
is to apprehend the fourteen-year-old and return them a reward
twenty shillings breaking vanished has a west african black
said to struggle with the tongue full eyes all yellow
aged about seventeen heading eastward wanting of some toes a plea
lookout for indian black diamonds at their temples hair curled like the rest
three guineas for capture child still maturing we have been informed
clothed in drugget gown dark cinnamon hat public warned be vigilant
evil visible in her neck if approached by aforementioned black of adult age
this woman in the whitechapel area still wanting toes and front teeth
if she appears wanting of a name refusing english if she has a mark
on her face belonging to her country itself wanting of a name forehead
resembling flower blooming heading eastward still escort back forty shillings
Gboyega Odubanjo was born and raised in East London. He received an Eric Gregory Award, New Poets’ Prize and the Michael Marks Award, was an editor at bath magg and Bad Betty Press and the author of three poetry pamphlets including While I Yet Live (Bad Betty Press, 2019) and Aunty Uncle Poems (The Poetry Business, 2021). He was studying for a PhD in creative writing at the University of Hertfordshire and his upcoming collection, ‘Adam’, will be published by Faber in the summer of 2024.
Gboyega was one of the poets featured in IS&T’s Runaways London (2021, produced in conjunction with Spread the Word and the University of Glasgow’s Runaway Slaves in Britain project.) ‘Classified’ is from this anthology.
He was also editor of Uprising & Resistance (IS&T, Spread The Word, Black Beyond Data) which launched in June of this year.
Gboyega went missing early on the morning of Saturday 26th August, while at the Shambala Festival where he was meant to perform the next day. His body was found five days later.
His family have set up a fundraiser to support in his final arrangements and continue on his legacy.