“HUNTERS” On our way to the first picnic of Spring, my daughter points her index finger to the uniformed crowd, shouts “hunters”. I did not teach her that. She must have gathered some idea from the stories of those around her and some from the pictures while ravaging through my laptop. My daughter does not understand the news; I think mistrust for the television was innate in her; In that moment, I decided I’d tell her in bits and pieces truth and lived realities, ones they ask us to keep away from the reach of younger children -- Shows with visuals of Violence flash warnings too -- Content warning: Violence. . . 16+ only. But the world tends to ignore that our children live in the wretched embrace of shrouded stories. So, the next time my daughter shouts “Hunters”, I will not give in to my fears and paranoia, And while protecting her remains my first priority, I will nod my head in affirmative- “Hunters!”
Quratulain Qureshi is a Kashmiri native, who is currently pursuing her Masters in English Literature from New Delhi. She has published poems with journals such as Livewire, Wande Magazine, Inverse Journal and more.
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2 replies on ““Hunters” by Quratulain Qureshi”
Beautifully poignant piece—rich in intellect and emotion!
Captures the raw honesty of a child’s intuition and the delicate strength of a parent choosing truth over silence. There’s something profoundly moving about reclaiming the narrative, not through fear, but through conscious, compassionate affirmation. A graceful dance between protection and empowerment—truly thought-provoking!
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Your imagery is gentle yet unsettling at the same time, only a gifted poet can hold that balance so beautifully
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