In Common has a platform for people to share creative writing – short stories, observations, poem etc. Today, we’re sharing a poem from a local writer. Please get in touch if you would like your work to be featured: editor@in-common.co.uk.
By Gavandeep Chahal.
‘That’s Silly’
what’s that on your wrist?
why is it silver?
does it hurt when you take it off?
it’s for my religion.
that’s silly.
yeah, you’re right.
who’s the man in your necklace?
what’s that, on his head?
is he your Grandad?
he’s a Guru in our religion.
that’s silly.
yeah, you’re right.
why is your skin colour like that?
do you even like that colour?
do you sit out too much in the sun?
i guess it’s the way God made me.
that’s silly.
yeah, unfortunately… you’re right.
Gavandeep Chahal is 33 years old and lives with his wife Ajmer and one-year-old daughter Aria. He says: “The questions asked in my poem were real questions asked to me in my school days. I believe it was more curiosity than racism. But being a minority in the classroom in terms of skin colour, it gave me a sense of inferiority and me being somewhat different and strange almost. I thought the best way to answer these questions was to agree to their perceived oddity of me. Maybe that wasn’t the best thing to do.”