POLITICAL Poem: lucky me, by Doga Rojda Koldas

they call me lucky
when I get an admission
to enter the forbidden territories of superhumans
for which I have to prove
I am not an alien or a terrorist
but it does not matter
I enjoy this sanction
visiting the museums and being fascinated
by looking at masterpieces and ancient remains
of my ancestors
that were stolen from us

I am lucky

I enjoy the shadow, fresh air
the aromatic smell of flowers
in their forests
where my people risk their lives and keep guard
to save the oldest residents of our forests
old veteran trees, friends, and sisters
wise in years
against companies full of inhumans
hungry for infinite profit
backed up by their
international collaborators
and soldiers of the evil

I am lucky

I enjoy separating my trash
in their cities
paper for blue and bio for the green bin
composting for the future
I get satisfied imagining the contribution
I make for ecology and nature
but I forget that
the journey of their garbage trucks
end in my homeland

I am lucky

I enjoy going out with friends till the late hours
wearing whatever I want
with my nipples visible or a deep decollete
drinking, dancing, and queering
where the women and queer community of my country
fight every day for our lives
for our basic human rights
and freedom

I am so lucky

as long as I behave properly
keep a low profile
act “western”
not object and toe the line
because I know how hard and fortunate
is to get across
by those high-minded humans
to their exclusive territories
so I think I was really born (un)lucky!

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Doga Rojda Koldas was born in Turkey in an ethnic minority group called Zaza. She
holds a BA in sociology and an MA in women’s and gender studies. As a queer feminist
activist, she desires to see a victory against hetero-patriarchal, capitalist, and colonialist
forces and applies both theory and practice to that aim. She believes in the healing