TRANSLUCENT
What gives you the right to stare at me like that?
To jeer and smile and make eyes at me like that?
Is it because I dare to wear a skirt in your presence or is it that
I won’t wear a headscarf in your country?
Do you hate me because of something I did or said because I’m wracking my brain trying to think of something I’ve done to aggravate you and
I can think of nothing. Nothing at all.
What gives you the right to talk to me like that?
To shout and yell and tear me down like that?
Maybe it’s because you have nothing better to do or I just annoy you without meaning to or maybe
There’s just something about the way I walk past you and clutch my spare change in my
Pocket. It doesn’t make me a bad person collect my nickels and dimes like spare thoughts rather than
Drop it into your grubby hands.
What gives you the right to judge me like that?
To undress me with your eyes and make assumptions and scare me like that?
It has nothing to do with me that you drew the short end of the burning stick
You don’t have to hate me because I was born with pale hair and pale eyes and pale skin and a translucent personality.
Did I choose to be born to a middle class, middle city, middle block home? Did you choose to
Live here or there or really anywhere and you cannot pin it on me because your anger is not for me
Your anger is yours for you so don’t spew it
On me, acid burning naive skin and
I cry “I am not guilty!”
What gives you the right to stare and talk to and judge me like that?
To take your position on the front, shove your bayonet between my eyes and whisper
“You are –”
And I will agree.