The Dinner Table

Written by Anika Nambisan, Grade 9

Image by Hannah Busing

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A political divide

As tensions rise

A facade of promises

Made by a man living a lavish life,

Straining my eyes to see truth,

I can only see the fake news,

I now see the great division,

But not in math class,

Red and blue always seem to clash,

Arguments over the dinner table,

Our family knows this country’s unstable,

To stay or to take flight,

We ponder over our flimsy rights,

I lived in this country all my life,

Yet I still may never get the same rights,

If life were a fairytale,

Then I could finally exhale,

Knowing everything would be right,

Alas lives aren’t so bright,

My life here––a dream,

The ending makes me scream,

The place where we hate our

Brothers and sisters of color,

People cross the street when they see them,

Yet we spend most of our income,

Trying to blend in with them.

Touchy subjects divide us,

There’s nothing that’s united,

I scream till my voice goes hoarse,

Protesting for those who have it worse,

Only to be told to do schoolwork.

When the family’s gathered,

Our image must not shatter,

So we do not chatter,

When they speak on political matters.

I bite back my tongue,

When I disagree,

Because, लोग क्या कहेंगे (Log kya kahenge?*)¹

Our country cut in half,

It might turn to ash

As millions sit back

They feel untouched,

It’s not just in my head,

The problem has been left unread.

I wonder what it would take,

For me to be a proud American again.

¹ लोग क्या कहेंगे (Log kya kahenge?)=*What will people think/say?