IMTIAZ DHARKER:Outside the door, lurking in the shadows, is a terrorist.Is that the wrong description?Outside that door, taking shelter in the shadows,is a freedom-fighter.I haven't got this right.Outside, waiting in the shadows is a hostile militant.Are words no more than waving, wavering flags?Outside your door, watchful in the shadows, is a guerilla warrior.God help me.Outside,defying every shadow,stands a martyr.I saw his face.No words can help me now.Just outside the door, lost in shadows,is a child who looks like mine.One word for you.Outside my door, his hand too steady, his eyes too hard,is a boy who looks like your son, too.I open the door.Come in, I say.Come in and eat with us.The child steps in and carefully, at my door, takes off his shoes.
Imtiaz Dharker performs her poem, 'The Right Word', in an urban setting.
This is from the series: Poets in Person
Teacher Notes
This clip can be used to explore the power of language to influence our opinions.
Students could find an image of a child from a magazine or newspaper.
They are given the keywords from the poem eg terrorist, freedom fighter, martyr, guerilla warrior, a child like my own, a child like yours etc.
Students use each of these different labels, to create different newspaper captions for the same image.
What conclusions can students draw about choosing the 'right' words?
Curriculum Notes
This clip will be relevant for teaching English Literature at KS3 and KS4/GCSE in England and Northern Ireland. Also English Language at KS3 and English Literature at GCSE in Wales.
This topic appears in OCR, Edexcel, AQA, WJEC in England and Wales and CCEA GCSE in Northern Ireland.
More from the series: Poets in Person
English Literature KS3 / GCSE: 'Ghazal' by Mimi Khalvati (poem only) video
A reading of 'Ghazal' by the author, Mimi Khalvati.
English Literature KS3 / GCSE: 'Singh Song' by Daljit Nagra (poem only) video
Daljit Nagra performs his poem 'Singh Song'.
English Literature KS3 / GCSE: 'Flag' by John Agard (poem only) video
A performance of the poem 'Flag' by the poet, John Agard.
English Literature KS3 / GCSE: 'Checking Out Me History' by John Agard (poem only) video
John Agard performs his poem 'Checking Out Me History'.
English Literature KS3 / GCSE: 'Praise Song for My Mother' by Grace Nichols (poem only) video
Grace Nichols performs her poem 'Praise Song for My Mother'.
English Literature KS3 / GCSE: 'Ghazal' by Mimi Khalvati (analysis) video
Mimi Khalvati reads and explores the writing of her poem 'Ghazal'.
English Literature KS3 / GCSE: 'Checking Out Me History' by John Agard (analysis) video
Poet John Agard describes the process of writing his poem 'Checking Out Me History'.
English Literature KS3 / GCSE: 'The Right Word' by Imtiaz Dharker (analysis) video
Imtiaz Dharker reads and explores the background to her poem, 'The Right Word'.
English Literature KS3 / GCSE: 'Singh Song' by Daljit Nagra (analysis) video
Daljit Nagra explores and performs his poem 'Singh Song'.
English Literature KS3 / GCSE: 'Praise Song for My Mother' by Grace Nichols (analysis) video
Grace Nichols reads and explores the writing of her poem, 'Praise Song For My Mother'.
English Literature KS3 / GCSE: 'Flag' by John Agard (analysis) video
John Agard discusses his poem 'Flag', the symbolism of flags and poetry writing.
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