Stone Walls Do Not A Prison Make, Nor Iron Bars A Cage

Abstract

This article examines the works of three poets who, despite physical incarceration, expressed profound themes of resilience, freedom, and human dignity. The first is Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor of India, who composed deeply reflective poems during his exile in British-controlled Rangoon. Zafar’s poetry encapsulates his sorrow, nostalgia for his homeland, and resistance to oppression, all while exploring mortality. Next, the article delves into Faiz Ahmed Faiz, a renowned Urdu poet whose prison poems capture the anguish of confinement alongside the enduring hope for justice. His emotive language resonates with the struggles of the oppressed and serves as a powerful critique of political tyranny. Lastly, the article introduces Vasyl Stus, a Ukrainian poet and dissident who wrote during his imprisonment in Soviet labor camps. His poetry conveys a profound understanding of human suffering, freedom, and the resilience of the spirit against systemic oppression. By exploring these three poets’ experiences and their translations, the article highlights the transcendence of art over physical captivity, emphasizing the enduring strength of human expression across cultural and historical boundaries.