“This is Not a Political Poem”

Creators of Justice Award 2021 | Second Prize (Youth): Poetry

Srina Bose is a high school student and poet based in New Delhi, India. She believes in “activism via art” and writes about various social issues that pick her interest. She has previously published her collection of poetry titled “Roses In My Mind”, which is commercially available.

I am warning you, 

This is not a political poem. 

This is an empty page, 

Of the silences of the potent.

These are the words a pen bleeds out, 

With the last bits of its ink. 

This is not a political poem, 

But it is the desperation of the Afghan men, 

Clawing their way onto an airplane.

This is their greed for safety,

And their wish for a homeland,

With a “home” in it.

This is not a political poem, 

I repeat— 

This is a tragedy. 

This is an attempt of revival, 

Not of soldiers, wars and blood, 

But the voice within our throats. 

This is not a political poem,

For I don’t shape a revolution as I write,

I don’t hold a flag as I write.

But I think I hold the images of women, 

Passing their babies over barbed fences. 

I think I hold all the news articles I have read this week,

And I think I hold privilege as I write this. 

This is not a political poem, 

But it is a chequebook, 

Of the money we have made through war. 

It is the digit adding after every gun that is sold, 

And every life that is lost. 

This is not a political poem, 

For these words are not trophies I want to preserve, 

But they are trophies we can pick up and use as a dagger. 

This is not a political poem, 

I repeat, 

For there is no synonym to this suffering. 

There is no rhyme to the blood. 

And there is no rhythm to my privilege. 

This is not a political poem, 

I repeat.

This is a war cry.