Gregory Richard Barden Poet Rhyme

Notes About The Poem

Touch, Taboo

I sip Long Island Tea, watch your bare knees upon the tiles,
      the suits and Blaneks pass you, unaffected by your smiles,
         you work so hard to brush the day's debris to ordered piles,
   still, folks pass you unaware, kick your dirt without a care ...

You are a gem of nature - shining eyes that best the snow,
      that grin of ivory brilliance noonday sun could not bestow,
         with flawless cappuccino skin, buffed chocolate afterglow,
   yet the steady passerby's find you something to despise ...

I see your nails are neatly trimmed, as clean as they can be,
      work dress - pressed with utmost care, as anyone can see,
         your hair up in a braided bun, and tied with ribbons, three,
   but all that others do, is deride and snarl at you ...

I can not help but think just how absurd this is that they
      can find you so deplorable - though somehow in the way,
         when you are working hard for but a fraction of their pay,
   and yet their views and skin are at odds, and far too thin ...

The madness of this picture gets too much for me to take,
      I leave my drink to walk to you and take your hand to shake,
         but as I do, you yank it back, as tho' some cursed mistake,
   your complexion pales to wan - in an instant, you are gone ...

It's so sad their biased spell, has now chilled your heart ...

      as well.





~ 7th Place ~  in the "Children of a Lesser God" Poetry Contest
Craig Cornish, Judge & Sponsor.

( How horrid a reflection on humanity, that we can apply the label "untouchables" to others of our race )

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Heather Crismond April 20, 2020 at 7:01 PM This poem strikes a chord known to well. You expressed perfectly how people's ill placed judgement can do such profound harm. Congratulations on your placement:) Gregory Richard Barden April 21, 2020 at 1:29 AM Thank you so very much for the kind comments, Heather, it means a great deal ... I think this message is even MORE pertinent in our current global state, as "touch" will have a very different context in the time to come. Blessings, My Friend! :o) <3

Eileen Manassian April 14, 2020 at 2:19 AM Very thought provoking write. I was saddened to read the ending. Yes, racism is a learned experience. We aren't born to see color...or position...or rank. I have written a poem by this title. Tell me, do you know if only new poems are admissible to this contest? Gregory Richard Barden April 14, 2020 at 4:51 AM Yes, I'm sure it does, Eileen ... I have another poem (Free Verse called "Untouchable") about the same thing and did not use that one cuz it had to be new. I'll have to read yours - thank you so much for the comment! :o) <3