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# “The Terrorist at my Table”
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/poetry-3543jsp/
- Published: 2006-05-14T23:05:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-04-17T11:48:48.000Z
- Author: Imtiaz Dharker
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 19:27, #ImagesUploaded

![The Terrorist at my Table Imtiaz Dharker](https://storage.ghost.io/c/3f/80/3f804bea-4b2d-4ddf-9ff0-6ec7d0afa5fa/content/images/2026/04/565_1gKPAMd-1776425888720.jpg)

The Terrorist at my Table Imtiaz Dharker

Buy now: UK, US, Worldwide

**“The Terrorist at my Table”** 
**by Imtiaz Dharker**  
[Bloodaxe Books](http://www.bloodaxebooks.com/titlepage.asp?isbn=1852247355&ref=opendemocracy.net) | April 2006 | ISBN 1852247355

---

**The right word**

Outside the door  
lurking in the shadows,  
is a terrorist.

Is that the wrong description?  
Outside that door,  
taking shelter in the shadows,  
is a freedom-fighter.

I haven’t got this right.  
Outside, waiting in the shadows,  
is a hostile militant.

Are words no more  
than waving, wavering flags?  
Outside your door,  
watchful in the shadows,  
is a guerrilla warrior.

God help me.  
Outside, defying every shadow,  
stands a martyr.  
I saw his face.

No words can help me now.  
Just outside the door,  
lost in shadows,  
is a child who looks like mine.

One word for you.  
Outside my door,  
his hand too steady,  
his eyes too hard  
is a boy who looks like your son, too.

I open the door.  
Come in, I say.  
Come in and eat with us.

The child steps in  
and carefully, at my door,  
takes off his shoes.

![Imtiaz Dharker](https://storage.ghost.io/c/3f/80/3f804bea-4b2d-4ddf-9ff0-6ec7d0afa5fa/content/images/2026/04/imtiaz_dharker_110_cJH1Ykj-1776425888738.jpg)

Imtiaz Dharker

**About the author**: Imtiaz Dharker is a poet, artist, and documentary film-maker. Her books of poetry, illustrated with her drawings, *Postcards from God* (1997), *I Speak for the Devil* (2001), and *The Terrorist at my Table* (2006) are published by [Bloodaxe Books](http://www.bloodaxebooks.com/?ref=opendemocracy.net).

**Buy now:** [**UK**](http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/redirect?path=ASIN/1852247355&link%5Fcode=as2&camp=1634&tag=opendemocracy-21&creative=6738&ref=opendemocracy.net)**,** [**US**](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?path=ASIN/1852247355&link%5Fcode=as2&camp=1789&tag=opendemocra0a-20&creative=9325&ref=opendemocracy.net)**,** [**Worldwide**](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?link%5Fcode=ur2&camp=1789&tag=opendemocra0a-20&creative=9325&path=tg/stores/static/-/gateway/international-gateway/ref=gw%5Fsubnav%5Fin&ref=opendemocracy.net)