This week, we have been focusing on poetry during our reading sessions. We have been using the poem ‘Refugee‘ by Brian Bilston as our stimulus.
Refugees
They have no need of our help
So do not tell me
These haggard faces could belong to you or me
Should life have dealt a different hand
We need to see them for who they really are
Chancers and scroungers
Layabouts and loungers
With bombs up their sleeves
Cut-throats and thieves
They are not
Welcome here
We should make them
Go back to where they came from
They cannot
Share our food
Share our homes
Share our countries
Instead let us
Build a wall to keep them out
It is not okay to say
These are people just like us
A place should only belong to those who are born there
Do not be so stupid to think that
The world can be looked at another way
(now read from bottom to top)
The poem is super interesting as you can read it forwards and backwards – this is called a palindrome poem.
First, we read it forwards and recorded our feelings. We were outraged by what we had read:
I dislike this poem because it discriminates against refugees. I felt shocked that people don’t treat refugees fairly. Kamile.
I don’t like it because it’s offensive! Tommy.
They don’t deserve to be treated unfairly as they have just arrived from a long, dangerous journey. Valerie.
I found that I was angry as I think it is a bit racist. Leo M.
The poet made me sad because he was discriminating against refugees. Ralph.
Then, we read it backwards and noticed that our views on the poem had completely changed.
Help at home – Read the poem with your child. Discuss your viewpoints. Can your child relate the poem to our Christian values of Peace, Compassion, Forgiveness, Honesty, Courage and Perseverance?