What About Us?

What About Us? & Other Rebellions: Poems for the Forgotten and Furious

In a world that whispers "be grateful" while serving crumbs from golden tables, some voices refuse to stay silent. This raw, unflinching collection of poetry gives voice to those caught between dreams and reality, between promises and broken systems.

From scholarship children navigating gates that swing only one way, to hands that carry water buckets instead of diplomas, to paper kites that refuse to fly in rigged winds—these poems illuminate the struggles of the overlooked and underestimated. With searing honesty and dark humor, O. Yahal crafts verses that transform hunger into fuel, silence into rebellion, and forgotten footnotes into powerful declarations.

What About Us? doesn't just ask the question—it demands an answer. Through three distinct sections—"Crumbs" (poems of scarcity and invisible labor), "Punchlines" (dark humor and societal absurdity), and "Kites Without Sky" (grounded dreams and clipped potential)—this collection builds to a crescendo of defiance that refuses to accept the status quo.

For readers who've ever felt like the punchline to someone else's joke, who've been told to "be realistic" while watching others soar, who've wondered why their hands hold hoes instead of hopes—this book is your battle cry.

"We are the cracks in the system—we are learning to bite."

Perfect for fans of spoken word poetry, social justice literature, and anyone ready to stop being grateful for scraps and start demanding their rightful place at the table.

Tags: Poetry, Social Justice, Spoken Word, Contemporary Poetry, African Literature, Rebellion, Dreams, Inequality, Coming of Age