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Politics and Activism

Mother Tongue

A pantoum.

Olinah Hassan
Sep 12, 2016
Barnard College
25
Mother Tongue
britishcouncil.org

Pantoum: "a type of poem with a verse form consisting of three stanzas. It has a set pattern within the poem of repetitive lines."

আমি বাংলাদেশী

Stop speaking in Bengali.

I’m Bangladeshi

You’re American.

Stop speaking in Bengali.

It’s what I learned, it’s what I am

You’re American.

I’ll speak English

It’s what I learned, it’s what I am

I’m sorry I didn’t mean to confuse you

I’ll speak English

You’ve lost your roots, you westerner.

I’m sorry I didn’t mean to confuse you

English during the school day, Bengali at night

You’ve lost your roots, you westerner.

Maybe staying silent is the best option

English during the school day, Bengali at night

Two distant worlds torn apart

Maybe staying silent is the best option

Hesitant under judging glares

Two distant worlds torn apart

I’m Bangladeshi

Hesitant under judging glares

Benglish it shall be.

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