I am devastated by the death of Benjamin Zephaniah. I corresponded with him when I was in my late teens. He helped me during a difficult period in my life.
In 1984, I could write to him, and tell him everything that I was experiencing, and he would not judge me. He listened. He responded. He took me seriously. He contributed to my not going entirely off the rails, when I was a teenager. He used his genius in that regard. He never asked me for anything. He gave of himself. I am glad to say that I made the best of him that I could. If I had not, I probably would not be posting this, now.
As well as being an out-and-out literary genius, he was a political activist, and a very nice, generous chap.
He will take a lot of getting over. We miss you, Benjamin.
iamhyperlexic 