A Roman maxim avers
Ignorance is an ugly beast, never
A bliss. Railway station coffee bar
Zestful counter girl sheds a tear.
Smiles gifted me in the past cancelled
By precipitous disquiet vexation
For alas she was mistreated, brutishly
Stabbed with poisonous words.
A dark-skinned lady did not refrain
From insulting her as she counted copper
Coins a hundred needed to indulge
In a cup of liquid black warmth.
Displeasing moment for a life of many
Instants I pity and comprehend, though not
The lady’s heinous demeanour but
The counter girl remark, struck my chords.
Apologising before uttering the lemma
Of revenge a ‘bloody negro’ she explained
While reassuring she was not, a racist,
Adding truth is, “They” do not have a culture
Of respect, uneducated populace
She proclaims to my disdain as I dare
To respectfully disagree, unable
Not to intervene. Truth is,
Wickedness and spite do not hold
A passport, they can not be justified
By nationalities, colours or beliefs.
They do not travel or migrate yet
They do seek asylum within
Spirits drowning in pain.
Romans, French, British, Americans,
Bangladeshis, Russians, Chinese, Greeks,
Senegalese, Nigerians, Australians, Canadians,
Chileans, Argentinians, Libyans, Lebanese,
Hundred and ninety-five countries hosting
One race, Humanity. Distinction only made
Between those enduring in kindness
And those desperately surrendering to anger.
A choice a commitment a will, my plead
For humanity to see, beyond,
With eyes of love.
[Featured graffiti: Love is love by Banksy]