Translated by Swe Rohingya
Demons rule the nation
Their atrocities are inhumane
They issue warrants without reason
And arrest everyone wherever they find
They kill en masse till the end
And force the people out of their motherland
The outburst of feelings
Turns into a poem
Based on race and faith
Their policies discriminate
The most oppressed among us
Are the Rohingya on this earth
Risking their lives
And gambling with uncertainty
Mothers are separated from their sons
While running away for life far from the native land
For months on the sea
Sailing the wooden boat with uncertainty
No destiny or shore in sight
Floating in the middle of the ocean
With lack of sleep and no food
Women were raped, ruining their lives
The lucky ones survive, while the poor embrace death
Battling to land on the shore
But no country allows the ill-fated Rohingya to anchor their boat
Rohingya became outcasts everywhere
Our voices become voiceless
Therefore, we complain to thee, O Almighty.
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Shahida Win is the pen name of Shahida, a poet who has been composing poems primarily in Burmese and Rohingya languages. As a poet, she strives to bring forth emotions and perspectives through her verses, shedding light on experiences that are often overlooked. Her goal is to touch hearts, evoke empathy, and encourage understanding among readers, and she believes ‘The Boat People’ can achieve this with its powerful message.
