Benjamin J Martin Poet Free verse

Not Quite English

Where are you really from?

An all-too familiar question,

One which I quite detest.


Often looking for simple answer,

This I cannot give, too awkward to tell the truth,

I can only say, not quite English, not quite like you.


My skin is not quite white,

My eyes not quite blue or brown,

Turkish, Greek, Spanish…?

He’s from somewhere out of town.


I have an English accent,

I was brought up in the South, born close to London too,

However not quite English, not quite like you.


I simply avoid the answer,

And I’ve never known quite why,

Especially considering the millions who have died.

I just say I’m English, although not quite like you,

To avoid the awkward pause after I say I am a Jew.

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