We refugees poem benjamin zephaniah facts

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