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On Why I Don't Read Newspapers

by Nashrah Tanvir
(Faridabad, India)

I don't read newspapers,
Where death is printed in black
And obituary in small columns,
You'll never miss giant companies printed on women's bodies
In more than just one colour
On a page you can't miss.
After all, the truth is always black and white,
It's only lies that need colours.

I don't read newspaper
Where rapes are written like sex stories
And a family murdered is printed on page four
To pass it to people who're really looking
'cause cheers and cheerleaders had to be on first page.
Where words 'oil' and 'terrorism' won't be printed in the same page
But 'Kashmiris' and 'terrorism' is.
Where people killing in name of religion
Will never hear the word sedation
But college students will.

You know who paid for the ink,
You know whose skins those papers are printed on
Yet you preach me to read newspapers
'cause you find no difference between humanities and general knowledge.
I'm not the one misinformed
When you find the printer and the owner.

My dadi couldn't read
And the only use of newspaper to her
Is to line the kitchen shelf
Before she put her China tea cups.
But I can read- I read in the language
That killed my ancestors-
And the only use of newspaper to me
Is to double wrap my blood painted sanitory napkin,
Oh, hello there, patriarchy!