We Refugees (Benjamin Zephaniah)

This section provides analysis for the poem We Refugees by Benjamin Zephaniah. Benjamin Zephaniah's poem We Refugees is a powerful exploration of identity, displacement, and the shared experience of suffering among refugees. Through a series of vivid, direct statements, the poem conveys the harsh realities of forced migration, emphasising that no one is immune to the challenges that come with being displaced, whether due to war, political oppression, or environmental disaster. Zephaniah also critiques the way refugees are treated and perceived, urging empathy and a recognition of our shared humanity. You can read the poem below followed by detailed analysis. 

We Refugees by Benjamin Zephaniah

I come from a musical place 
Where they shoot me for my song 
And my brother has been tortured 
By my brother in my land

I come from a beautiful place 
Where they hate my shade of skin 
They don’t like the way I pray
 And they ban free poetry

I come from a beautiful place 
Where girls cannot go to school 
There you are told what to believe
 And even young boys must grow beards.

I come from a great old forest
 I think it is now a field 
And the people I once knew 
Are not there now.

We can all be refugees
 Nobody is safe, 
All it takes is a mad leader
Or no rain to bring forth food, 
We can all be refugees 
We can all be told to go, 
We can be hated by someone 
For being someone.

I come from a beautiful place 
Where the valley floods each year 
And each year the hurricane tells us 
That we must keep moving on.

I come from an ancient place 
All my family were born there 
And I would like to go there 
But I really want to live.

I come from a sunny, sandy place 
Where tourists go to darken skin 
And dealers like to sell guns there
I just can’t tell you what’s the price.

I am told I have no country now 
I am told I am a lie 
I am told that modern history books 
May forget my name.

We can all be refugees 
Sometimes it only takes a day, 
Sometimes it only takes a handshake 
Or a paper that is signed. 
We all came from refugees 
Nobody simply just appeared, 
Nobody’s here without a struggle, 
And why should we live in fear 
Of the weather or the troubles? 
We all came here from somewhere.

Analysis of the Poem

Context and Overview

Benjamin Zephaniah (1958-2023) was a British-Jamaican poet and activist known for his work that addresses social and political issues. In "We Refugees," Zephaniah uses his poetic platform to address the global refugee crisis, highlighting the universal nature of displacement and the shared experiences that link people from different backgrounds. The poem suggests that all human beings, regardless of their origins, are connected through the common thread of migration and survival. The speaker's reflections on their own personal history as a refugee point to broader social issues of inequality, prejudice, and the consequences of war and climate change. Zephaniah, who had been outspoken about social injustice throughout his career, uses the poem to advocate for a more compassionate and understanding approach to refugees.

Form and Structure

The poem is written in free verse, without a regular rhyme scheme or metre, which gives it an informal, conversational tone. This structure mirrors the speaker’s sense of displacement and instability, reflecting the idea that refugees’ lives are often unpredictable and unstructured. The lack of a consistent rhyme also underscores the chaos and disruption that displacement causes, as well as the sense of brokenness in the speaker’s identity and life.

The poem's repetitive refrain, "I come from a beautiful place," used at the beginning of several stanzas, contrasts with the increasingly tragic and violent experiences described. This repetition highlights the stark contrast between the speaker’s memories of home and the grim realities they face. The structure also serves to emphasise the accumulation of different forms of hardship and the relentless challenges that refugees experience. Additionally, the speaker's declaration, "We can all be refugees," repeats throughout the poem, reinforcing the central message that displacement can happen to anyone, regardless of their background or origins.

Imagery and Language

Zephaniah employs vivid imagery throughout the poem to depict both the beauty and the suffering of the speaker’s homeland. Phrases like "I come from a musical place," "a beautiful place," and "a great old forest" evoke a sense of natural beauty and cultural richness. These positive images stand in stark contrast to the violence and oppression the speaker describes, such as "They shoot me for my song," and "my brother has been tortured / By my brother in my land." These juxtapositions underscore the tragic loss of home and the destructive impact of conflict on communities.

The imagery of violence and restriction is continued with "They don’t like the way I pray," "They ban free poetry," and "girls cannot go to school." Here, Zephaniah addresses political and social oppression, particularly the ways in which personal freedoms, such as religious expression, creative freedom, and education, are often denied in places where refugees come from. This conveys the intense emotional and intellectual costs of displacement, where individuals are forced to leave not just their homes but also the cultural and social aspects of their identity.

The line "I think it is now a field / And the people I once knew / Are not there now" suggests the devastation caused by war, environmental destruction, or displacement. The transformation of "a great old forest" into "a field" symbolises the erosion of the speaker’s past and the impact of external forces on their environment and community. The disappearance of familiar people further emphasises the theme of loss and the irreversible changes caused by conflict.

Themes of Displacement, Loss, and Identity

The primary theme of "We Refugees" is displacement. Zephaniah uses the speaker’s personal narrative to highlight the experiences of refugees, not just as victims, but as individuals with histories, identities, and cultures that have been uprooted. The repeated assertion "I come from a beautiful place" establishes a sense of pride and affection for the speaker’s homeland, making the loss of it all the more poignant. However, this beauty is undercut by violence, oppression, and environmental degradation, forcing the speaker to leave their home in search of safety.

The poem also addresses loss, both on a personal and a collective scale. The speaker's memories of their homeland are tinged with sadness and regret, as the place they once knew has been changed or destroyed, and the people they loved are no longer present. This loss is not just of a physical home but of a way of life, as shown in the line "We can all be refugees," which implies that anyone can be forced to lose their home, their community, and their identity. This line serves to create solidarity among all people, urging readers to see refugees not as "others" but as individuals who are part of a shared human experience.

Another key theme is the idea of identity and belonging. Throughout the poem, the speaker grapples with the loss of their country, their family, and their culture. In a powerful line, the speaker states, "I am told I have no country now," reinforcing the existential crisis that refugees face when they lose their national identity and are forced into a liminal state. The speaker's sense of self is no longer grounded in a geographical location, leading to a sense of alienation. Zephaniah’s use of the phrase "I am told I am a lie" speaks to the dehumanising effect of being labelled as a refugee, with the implication that refugees are often seen as less legitimate or less real in the eyes of the world.

Critique of Attitudes Towards Refugees

The poem also critiques the global response to refugees. By stating, "We can all be refugees," Zephaniah argues that anyone can fall victim to displacement due to factors beyond their control, such as "a mad leader" or "no rain to bring forth food." These lines highlight the arbitrary nature of who becomes a refugee, suggesting that such experiences are often determined by uncontrollable factors like politics, climate change, or war. Zephaniah highlights how the world is interconnected and how the struggles of refugees are not isolated incidents but part of a global issue.

The line "Nobody simply just appeared, / Nobody’s here without a struggle," challenges the idea that refugees are outsiders or interlopers in their new countries. Instead, Zephaniah suggests that all people, regardless of where they come from, have struggled to exist and belong in the world. By acknowledging that "we all came here from somewhere," the poem emphasises the shared human experience of migration and survival, advocating for empathy and compassion rather than exclusion.

Summary

We Refugees by Benjamin Zephaniah is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of displacement, identity, loss, and the shared humanity of refugees. Through its vivid imagery and direct language, the poem forces readers to confront the harsh realities of forced migration while also encouraging empathy and understanding. Zephaniah’s repetition of "I come from a beautiful place" serves to remind us of the value and beauty of what is lost when refugees are forced to leave their homes, while the refrain "We can all be refugees" challenges us to see that anyone, at any time, could face the same fate. Ultimately, the poem calls for solidarity, compassion, and a recognition that we all share a common human experience, regardless of where we come from.

You can find analysis of all the Edexcel Belonging Poetry Anthology Poems here.