Understanding the poem ‘Us’ by Zaffar Kunial

Key learning points

1. Kunial was born in Birmingham, to an English mother and Pakistani father.
2. Kunial's poems often refer to identity and cultural heritage.
3. In his poem 'Us', Kunial uses the collective pronoun to highlight how society needs to be more tolerant.
4. Kunial's poem is about both divisions and togetherness.
5. Although the speaker of the poem believes in unity, they admit this is difficult with their personal relationships.

Keywords

• Societal divisions - differences within society based on class, race, religion, or other factors

• Unity - working together; joined as a whole

• Fluid - flexible, adaptable; capable of flowing or changing shape easily

• Abstract - existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence

• Concrete - opposite of abstract; something clear and specific you can see, feel or sense

Common misconception