Summary

The poem “Remember the Ship” by John Agard begins with the speaker saying he identifies as a citizen of an English-speaking country. The speaker states his plea to remember the ship in citizenship. He goes on to say language is a kind of baggage that people take with them everywhere they go, which can ground them and remind them of their origins or give them wings and offer them opportunities to connect with others who speak the same language. The speaker wonders if, as people travel far and wide over ancient waters, race will be something that will stand in their way when they try to live in new places. 

The...