It was almost half past August 1936. One morning, some prisoners were released from a prison in Granada, southern Spain. Among them were a schoolmaster, two bullfighters, and some other prisoners. The soldiers took these prisoners to a hill between Viznar and Alfcar. Once there, they shot and killed the prisoners one by one. One of those killed was a young man who was about 38 years old. The soldiers buried the body of the young man there and left it there.

Over time, Lorca became increasingly interested in literature and drama. The young Lorca was also skilled in piano, music, and painting. His poems, which mixed traditional folk tales with hyperrealism, were marked by a deep music of death and the fire of resistance. At the time of this incident, the Spanish Civil War was raging. And, the young man who was killed in this way was Federico García Lorca. He was a famous Spanish poet, playwright, and theater director. He is known as one of the most influential figures in Spanish literature of the 20th century. He was born on June 5, 1898 in Granada. Over time, Lorca became increasingly interested in literature and drama. The young Lorca was also skilled in piano, music, and painting. His poems, which mixed traditional folk tales with hyperrealism, were marked by a deep music of death and the fire of resistance.

Lorca's work was considered revolutionary at the time, and his life and art made him one of Spain's most famous and beloved literary figures. However, this did not sit well with the Spanish fascist regime. His left-wing socialist ideas and his reputation as an influential intellectual made him a target of nationalist forces. Therefore, he became a prime target of the fascist uprising in Granada. Lorca was arrested on August 16, 1936, at his friend's house, where he was hiding from the authorities.

This was not the first story of poets' struggle with the authorities. Poets had stood up against the authorities and rulers many times before. Where they had to lose their lives. Throughout history, many poets have been persecuted or executed by the state. Because their words challenged power, religion, or the social order. In 339 BC, the Chinese minister and poet Qu Yuan was exiled by the state. Later, frustrated by the state's oppression over political corruption, he committed suicide.

During the reign of the first king of Rome, Augustus, there was a poet - Ovid. The poet Ovid (43 BC–AD 17/18) was a major Roman poet. Ovid was considered a master of Latin literature. He is still known today for his wit and stylistic beauty, and is best known for his epic poem, The Metamorphoses. His work challenged the moral reforms of Emperor Augustus, who exiled him to the remote Black Sea port of Tomis. He died there.

Poetry serves as a powerful form of resistance against oppression, tyranny, and injustice by challenging established power. There are numerous examples of poets being targeted for their political beliefs and activism. In early modern England, the poet Sir Thomas Wyatt (1503–1542) was imprisoned under the Tudors. He later died. The poet Chidiok Tichborne (1558–1586) was executed by the state for treason. He was involved in the Babington Plot to assassinate the queen and was hanged on 20 September 1586. Similarly, the French poet André Chénier (1762–1794) was executed at the young age of thirty-one during the French Revolution for his writings and opposition to political extremism. Cuban poet José María Heredia (1803–1839) was exiled to Mexico by Spanish colonial authorities. He was agitating for the end of Spanish rule in Cuba and wrote poetry in protest. He later died of financial hardship and health problems.

Similarly, the Russian poet Osip Mandelstam (1891–1938) was arrested for criticizing Joseph Stalin. He died in a transit camp. During Stalin's rule in Russia, many poets and writers were executed. Among them was the short story writer, playwright, and journalist Isaac Babel (1894–1940). Similarly, the death of Japanese writer and poet Yukio Mishima is also linked to political tensions. He committed religious suicide after a failed coup attempt in 1970.

There are many examples of poets being directly executed, exiled, imprisoned, or forced to commit suicide, especially for their poetry. Poets are particularly targeted as a political threat under authoritarian regimes. Poetry serves as a powerful weapon against state authority by giving a voice to the oppressed. Poetry serves as a powerful form of resistance against oppression, tyranny, and injustice by challenging established power. There are many examples of poets being targeted, often for their political beliefs and activism.

In his 1821 essay ‘A Defence of Poetry’, the English Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote, ‘Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world.’ This statement became famous worldwide as a famous quote on poetry. Shelley wrote this sentence to argue for the essential transformative role of art and imagination in society. Shelley argued that poets and writers shape culture, morality, and social thought. Shelley believed that poets have a unique ability to predict future changes, which in turn influence the development of society. Poetry and literature have the power to create lasting change, which effectively guides human progress.

After Lenin’s death in Russia, Joseph Stalin established himself as the supreme leader of the Communist Party. He killed and eliminated his rivals and opponents. On August 12, 1952, thirteen Soviet Jews were executed in Moscow's Liban prison after being convicted of treason and espionage. They had been sentenced to death by the state after being convicted of nationalist activities and espionage, having already been imprisoned for many years, interrogated and tortured. Four of these thirteen victims of Stalinist persecution were poets, although many others were prominent writers, intellectuals and cultural figures.

Critics accused the book of using double language and attacking the Rana regime. Krishnalal Adhikari was sentenced to nine years in prison, where he died. Later, during the Maoist insurgency (1996–2006), the state targeted many writers suspected of supporting the insurgency. In neighboring India, the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb had a history of killing many poets and writers. He executed the poet Kalash, a trusted advisor to the Marathi king Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, as a prisoner of war. Aurangzeb had also killed his own brother Dara Shikoh. Dara Shikoh was a poet and scholar. He translated the Bhagavad Gita from Sanskrit into Persian. Aurangzeb also executed his brother Dara Shikoh's friend, the Sufi poet Sarmad Kashani. The famous Indian freedom fighter, revolutionary and talented poet Ram Prasad Bismil (1897–1927) played a major role in the Indian independence movement. He was sentenced to death by the British government for planning a train robbery. The famous Punjabi poet Avtar Singh Sandhu (Paas) was also brutally murdered by Khalistani separatists. Many poets and writers, such as Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Habib Jalib and Bangladeshi poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, also suffered from the state from time to time.

Many poets and writers have been killed in the recent war between Israel and Palestine. One of these killed poets and writers was 44-year-old poet Refaat Alarir. He taught at the Islamic University in Gaza. Alarir was a poet and was also involved in social activities. After Alarir's death, his poem titled 'I Had to Die' went viral.

Poets wrote protest poems during the Panchayat system in Nepal. During the Rana regime in Nepal, government permission was required to publish anything. According to the National Code of Nepal (1854) passed by Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana, permission for book review and publication had to be sought from the Nepali Language Publishing Committee. Subba Krishnalal Adhikari was working for the Rana government. His friend had given him an Indian book on ‘Makkai Kheti’, which inspired Adhikari to write a book on farming.

With the permission of the Nepali Language Publishing Committee, he published a book in July 1920. The book was titled, ‘Makkaiko Kheti’. 1,000 copies were printed. Critics accused the book of attacking the Rana regime by using double language. Krishnalal Adhikari was sentenced to nine years in prison, where he died. Later, during the Maoist insurgency (1996–2006), the state also targeted many writers suspected of supporting the insurgency. As a result, poet and journalist Krishna Sen Chokti died after being arrested.

Thus, from time to time, poets and writers all over the world have lost their lives while speaking the voice of the times and fighting for the rights of the common people. When the government and the authorities demonstrate frenzied power, the poets and writers have a history of rational opposition. There have been many examples of the authorities and rulers being afraid of poets and poetry. When poetry sounds the trumpet of change in society, the state becomes terrified. They try to nip its beautiful flower in fear of the power of poetry. But, they cannot kill poetry. Even the strong walls of autocracy tremble and collapse with the power of the words of poetry.