Shahana Jackson Poet Free verse

Monsters

When I was little I used to believe in the boogie man 
I used to be so afraid of just people's descriptions of him
that whenever I saw anything move in my room I would 
snuggle up so tight and close my eyes with all my might

When I was a little bit older and I first watched 
the nightmare on elms street 
I used to be afraid to go to sleep 
because Freddie could attack me in my dreams 

Now I am an adult 
and things like that don't really 
make me afraid anymore

But in my adult world there is still monsters 
There are the kind that could follow me home
and rape me , kill me and then next thing you
know I'm on the six o'clock news missing

And the creeps that attempt to slip pills in my drink
to make me forget about what he did
These are the type that should be labeled monsters
What really bothers me though is that a harmless guy 
who made a mistake could be victimized  
and ostracized just because he has AIDS.

All I have to say is that It makes me really afraid 
That society deems him unworthy of anyones company
It's hard for me to comprehend how despite 
His face. regardless of the race. Or the clean slate. 
He can be considered a monster and labeled stay away.
When there are predators on the streets everyday
in which I have no diagnosis to go by 

Glaring me down with their sly looking eyes 
Yet were preoccupied with the ones who 
are completely honest about their situation
To even shake his hand we have to have
gloves and proper anti bacterial ointment 
You label him a monster but all I want to do
is give this man a hug ungloved.
Because he's not like any of the monsters I know
or have heard of.

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