In the second round of English literacy this year, we did a case study on why people flee home, mainly with refugees and their experiences. The book Inside Out & Back Again written by Thanhha Lai was very important and helpful to us in this case study as we used it constantly in discussions of topics regarding what it feels like to be a refugee as well as the factors of becoming a refugee. At the end of the round, we studied refugees from many parts of the world and what was going on their country. As products of this round, we each wrote our own Inside Out & Back Again poem. These poems convey the experience of being a refugee, in a state of discomfort and vulnerability, and being lost, far from home. Below are the first 6 stanzas of my Inside Out & Back Again poem, entitled “Scared and Separated”. This round was one I enjoyed very much.
Scared and Separated
Freed and imprisoned, we cannot help, but fear the silence.
Return home, Azfaar. Bring your brother with you as well. We’ll be with you shortly, I promise.
Sweat is pouring down on my face. I hear shouts and screams far behind me, distant, yet loud and violent, but I dare not turn. I keep on going.
I recall when Father said while smiling, Not too soon, you’ll be in school with your friends again.
Thinking about it makes me miss them more and more.
Badrawi eyes me. Then his grip tightens. Our steps quicken gradually, then our stride breaks into a run…
What happens next? Click here to read the rest of this poem! Or if that is not working, here is the link: http://bit.ly/2KXlWdp
Thank you for reading!