Some Type of Connection

First, you said,

I don’t like

the way they dress, and I

really don’t like,

the way they pray.

You got together with people

who look like you.

To talk about them.

 

They are ruining

 the neighborhood.

They shouldn’t be allowed

 to do business here.

 

Then you didn’t like

the way you think

they have sex.

They should hide themselves

in public, you all said,

together, in time to

the beat

of patriotic drums.

 

You raised those glasses

of whiskey high over your

heads and saluted

each other’s cleverness

with much backslapping.

 

the whispers started

soon after, in streets.

 

Their food stinks,

But what can we DO?

SOMEBODY should take action.

 

With more mouths,

grew the confidence.

Voices spoke freely,

sabers rattled.

 

There was talk

of rotting fruit.

Recycled discussion

of broken eggs,

of omelets.

 

They should be ashamed

They should know better

than to walk outside, here.

It’s against my leader’s

version of the Bible.

I just don’t like them.

 

Th shouting started.

A guide was printed

on exactly what someone

motivated enough,

could do. Many suggestions

were made.

None were pleasant.

 

They should die,

was the conclusion.

 

Then maybe it was just

a matter of inevitability.

Punitive, restrictive, arbitrary

laws were passed.

It emboldened the vigilant.

 

They started dying.

 

Do you think that maybe

there was

some kind of connection? 

Author's Note

meditation on theme of "Connection," homework for poetry club activity. Like much of my current writing, this one was translated into English from my original publication in Spanish. It was inspired by work that I am doing on discrimination awareness and policy.