On February 1, 2021 the Myanmar military overthrew the democratic government, announcing a one year “state of emergency” in a challenge to the fall elections. In the days that followed several dozen elected officials were arrested. The public responded with mass protests, with hundreds of thousands of civilians taking to the streets. Poets, by pen and by megaphone, have been distilling the moment and inspiring the continued resistance. The military has responded with force. Poet K Za Win was killed. After his death, the military arrested and allegedly killed the poet Khet Thi. At least two other poets have been killed, along with more than 1,000 other civilians.