Aleena, a poet from the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, is known for her bold and thought-provoking writing. Though also a model and singer, her primary passion lies in poetry. She writes poems and short stories in Malayalam and occasionally pens articles on topics like caste, gender, sexuality, and religion. Aleena is a Dalit feminist writer whose work blends the personal with the political, often exploring themes of identity and social justice. Her first poetry collection, Silk Route, was published by Gooseberry Publications in 2021 and gained attention for its powerful voice and experimental use of language.
Aleena’s
poem “My English” showcases her distinctive poetic voice by blending
strong imagery, personal emotion, and influences from both Malayalam and
English. Written in a conversational tone, the poem delves into the struggles
of using a language inherited through colonial rule. It is not merely about
grammar—it is about survival, hunger, and the politics of language.
Speaking
from the margins, Aleena highlights how language shapes identity, especially
for people from historically oppressed communities. Her poem powerfully
reflects the tension between cultural pride and linguistic alienation, offering
a sharp and honest commentary on power, identity, and belonging.
“My
English” is not just about language; it is about history, identity, class,
caste, religion, pain, and pride. Every grammar mistake in the poem reflects a
real-life injustice, and every broken sentence tells a story of survival.
Aleena’s English may not be perfect, but it is powerful, honest, and deeply
hers.
🟩 Stanza 1
My English is simple ............. punishable by death.
The poet begins
by saying that her English is simple, not sophisticated. It is plain and basic
because it is scared. This fear comes from the pressure of making mistakes.
The phrase
"punishable by death" is not literal—it means the fear of being
laughed at, insulted, or looked down upon for not speaking English properly.
The poet’s English carries anxiety and shame, not because she lacks
intelligence, but because of how society judges people based on their language
skills.
🟩 Stanza 2
My English is first generation ......... it would never smell.
The poet tells us
her English is "first generation"—she is the first in her family to
speak it. Her parents were poor labourers who cooked for others but never ate
that food themselves, and worked on land they didn’t own. They grew flowers that
they never got to enjoy.
These lines show
how her family lived in poverty and served others without receiving any
benefit. Her English, therefore, comes from a background of hard work,
sacrifice, and denial, not from education or wealth.
🟩 Stanza 3
Its grandparents ........ slaves.
Her English has a
deeper past. Her grandparents converted to Christianity, likely due to colonial
influence or missionary pressure. Their parents, even earlier, were
slaves—possibly under caste-based or colonial systems.
These two lines
explain that her English carries a history of forced change, oppression, and
lack of freedom. It is not inherited from a proud tradition but from
survival and struggle.
🟩 Stanza 4
My English has no roots ............ was talking about.
Her English has
no connection to British royalty (“the late queen”). Instead, it came through
missionaries, who preached religion not with love, but with control. They spoke
about heaven, hell, justice, and equality, but often used these ideas to rule
over others, not to free them.
The phrase
“pseudo arm” means it was a fake act of kindness—something that looked
helpful but was controlling. Even the words of Jesus became tools to burden
her people instead of liberating them. Her English comes from this kind of twisted
preaching, not noble literature.
🟩 Stanza 5
My English is a slave owner’s illegitimate child.
This short line
is extremely powerful. It compares her English to a child born to a slave owner
and a slave, not out of love, but through violence, force, and domination.
It means her English was created in a relationship of power imbalance. It is
not accepted fully by either side. It stands as a symbol of oppression,
exploitation, and identity confusion.
🟩 Stanza 6
My English has issues .......... always against it.
Here, the poet
plays with grammar rules to show her reality. “Subject-verb agreement” is a
common grammar rule, but she gives it a deeper meaning. Her English was always
a “subject”—a person under rule, never free. It never experienced any fair
“agreement” or justice in life. The “verbs”—which are actions—were always
harmful or oppressive to her. So, even her grammar mistakes reflect her
real-life struggles. Grammar becomes a metaphor for injustice.
🟩 Stanza 7
My English never gets ......... in past.
This stanza
continues using grammar as a metaphor. Her English doesn’t handle tenses (past,
present, future) well. But again, the real meaning is emotional. Her English is
worried about the future (tensed) and trapped in painful memories
of the past. This shows that emotional trauma and fear affect her
language. She finds it hard to speak freely because of everything her
background carries.
🟩 Stanza 8
My English swallows ............. experimental poetry.
She says her
English leaves out articles (“a,” “an,” “the”) because it is always hungry.
Hunger here means poverty, lack of resources, or even the need for dignity.
What little it does speak, are just “crumbs”—broken bits of speech. But people
don’t understand the reason. They call it “freak” or “experimental” poetry,
thinking it is strange. They do not realize her English sounds different
because it was born out of need, not style.
🟩 Stanza 9
My English gets quota .......... for being outdated.
The poet points
out that her English is included in official spaces like national seminars,
possibly through reservation or diversity programs. But at the same time, it is
considered old-fashioned or not good enough. This means society pretends
to include her, but still doesn’t truly value or respect her English. It is
treated as something second-rate.
🟩 Stanza 10
My English has no Shakespeares............. dies in the cradles.
She compares her
English to the world of famous literature. Her English has no great writers
like Shakespeare. The Sylvia Plaths (poets full of emotion) in her world
are committing suicide, meaning they don’t survive their pain. Her Mary
Shelleys don’t just write horror — they live it. Her John Keatses die
too young — their talent never gets a chance to grow. These lines show
that people like her have potential, but social suffering kills creativity
early.
🟩 Stanza 11
My English is a token and ........... is just tired.
She says her
English is often treated as a “token” — something shown off for diversity — and
as “slang” — not seen as proper. But she proudly says, it is hers. She
owns it. Her English is like a war veteran: it has fought through
generations of pain, struggle, and discrimination. Now, like a tired
soldier, it just wants rest. These final lines give a strong emotional
ending, showing that her English may be broken, but it is real, tested,
and deeply personal.
Critical Analysis
Aleena’s poem “My
English” is a poignant exploration of language as both a tool and a
barrier. The poem challenges the conventional idea that mastery of English is
synonymous with intelligence or social worth. Instead, Aleena presents English
as a language burdened by history—specifically colonialism—and as a marker of
identity for marginalized communities.
The poet uses
strong imagery and a conversational tone to convey the emotional and cultural
struggle of expressing oneself in a language that is not fully “owned” but
imposed. This tension highlights the complex relationship between language and
power. For Aleena, English is a language of survival rather than perfection.
The “mistakes” in grammar and broken sentences are deliberate, emphasizing
authenticity and resistance rather than shame.
A significant
strength of the poem is its ability to connect personal experience with larger
social issues such as class, caste, and religion. Aleena’s English reflects her
lived reality—one shaped by systemic inequalities and historical oppression.
This makes the poem a powerful commentary on how language can both exclude and
empower.
Moreover,
Aleena’s work challenges readers to rethink their assumptions about language
and identity. The poem questions who gets to define “correct” English and
reveals how such standards often marginalize voices from the periphery.
“My English” is not just a poem about language—it is a bold assertion of identity and dignity. Through her unique voice, Aleena transforms English from a symbol of colonial dominance into a medium of personal and political expression.
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