Poem – Refugees by Brian Bilston

This poem reads as an anti-refugee rant from top to bottom.

However, when flipped and read bottom to top, it is a message of welcome and inclusion. It cleverly illustrates why inclusive, welcoming and respectful programming is required when working with people who are seeking asylum or are already refugees, especially against the backdrop of rising anti-immigrant hatred.

This poem highlights exactly why schools need to actively welcome newcomer students into their communities and to ensure racism and xenophobia have no place within the classroom or wider school.

You can listen to the poem if you prefer. Or why not read and listen at the same time?

Download this audio clip.Audio player: unit4_refugees_brian_bilston.mp3
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Transcript

NARRATOR
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.
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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 the poem again from bottom to top.

 

These audio poems are a great resource to use in class.

 

As you work through this unit, keep in mind the contrasting themes in this poem and the importance of ensuring schools are welcoming, safe and inclusive against the background of anti-refugee hostility present in some parts of our society.

Introduction

Building a community for learning