See the Colors of My Mask

You say you know me and yet I have questions too.

How can you claim to know me, when gazing at my face?

Is it that you pigeon-hole me, according to my race?

How can you predict my response, or determine what I crave?

Is it that you draw on your fears, to assume how I will behave?

Where do you glance, when I approach you on the street,

Do you veer away, disdain, avoid me so our eyes will not meet?

Where do you hide, when I stand near, tarnishing your pristine public view,

Do you pose and strut, as if equality was what you held true?

What is your reaction, should your hand perchance touch mine,

Do you feel sullied, as if you had touched some common, lowly swine?

What is your judgement, should my love embrace your child,

Do you disparage, denigrate, feel your family has been obscenely defiled?

Why do you ignore me, shutter-out my every innocent plea,

Is it that you are frightened by my cause, should you have to bend a knee?

Why do you suffocate the truth, obliterate the facts of history,

Does it soothe your insecurities or does it reinforce your bigotry?

When will you step away from the crowd and drink the truth of your heart?

You could stand alone, proud and revel in the glory of being apart.

When will our children laugh and tumble, unaware of their skin?

We should stand in shame, their separation, is our greatest sin.

Who are we to draw a line and demand this is the time for change?

We are the hungry, who yearn to drink the spectrum of humanity’s range.

Who are we to request that you change your repugnant ways?

We are the child of many gods that sits alone in the corner and prays.

So gaze upon me and drink in the variety of color and hue

And know I am patient, try to understand, regardless of what you say and do.

Thank you for reading.

Ten second takeaway:

To question is the way to to understanding, to assume is the way to ignorance.

Kevin Farran