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Poem 29: Prejudice

 

Prejudice


I don’t get why there’s so much hate.

The black and white people hate each other.

Women and men realize too late

that not every woman is meant to be a wife and mother.


Not every Spanish person commits crimes.

Not every Italian is in the mob.

I’m tired of saying a million times

that not every fat person is a slob.


Not every illegal alien is Hispanic.

Not every Southerner has a gun.

So we really shouldn’t panic

when we see people we are taught to shun.


We’re taught to hate unmarried mothers.

We’re taught to hate people on the dole.

We’re taught to hate so many others

and that we have an incorruptible role.


We’re taught to hate thirteen-year-old fathers

and people considered to have broken the law.

Disabled people are seen as bothers

as well as anyone with any other flaw.

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