You look on appalled and concerned
Just as I look at you.
Maybe he’s out for walk,
Bird watching,
Enjoying the sun or the weather.
Oh no, that can not be,
We haven’t seen him before!
Where did he come from?
Where is he going?
He must be up to no good.
Casing the joint,
Looking to rob us,
Rape our women,
Set fire to our homes,
Surely he must be a criminal,
He does not belong here!
But why incredulous?
He doesn’t look like us,
His type doesn’t live in this neighborhood.
He’s the wrong color,
Certainly he must be muslim
Or gay,
Or dealing drugs to our kids
And hates this country.
This is the twenty-first century,
Haven’t we moved beyond our prejudice?
Shamefully…
No!
Hateful glances say no,
Joblessness says no,
Homelessness says no,
Hearts and minds say no,
Ignorance still exists,
The year,
The decade,
The century matters not.
In correctness some bite their tongues,
But their medieval minds dictate.
Thoughts expressed through actions,
Conversations held in the shadows,
The like-minded nodding in approval.
So little have we progressed,
Claims of enlightenment ring hollow.
Baseless assumptions poisoning us,
Fear used as justification,
Repetition brainwashing the ignorant.
When will it end,
This perpetuation of hate,
Cloaked as patriotism, religion,
Our constitutional right?
~
~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~
Dom DiFrancesco 
Don’t know why but the ‘No!’ in the middle really ramps up the speed that I read the rest of the poem.
I think the “No!” may have just change the tone of the rest of the poem making it move faster…maybe, but in either case, thank you for taking the time to read it.
Always a pleasure to read them. Gets me thinking.
My brain hurts just thinking about it. I just don’t get – I just don’t get it.
Me either RoSy, I never got it and still don’t.
Excellent way to express a truth. Good work.
Thank you very much.
Great piece.
Unfortunately for our country, every line is correct.
You are right, it is incredibly unfortunate that this still exists in our country, or anywhere for that matter. You would think we would have moved so far beyond this by now, but still it continues to rear it’s ugly head.
Well said Dom, change is long overdue.
It most certainly is long overdue, but when will it happen is the question.
Lessons aplenty – mankind plays truant
Sadly so my friend, man still has a great deal to learn.