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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