‣ Categorize
‣ Tabulate
‣ Collate
‣ Postulate
Your genius
Separate the best of the best
the last of the last
a census of class—race
to the top you go
We are a race—a class
indistinct
White when needed
to fill a seat
Arab when needed
in terror you seek
Irish—go there
Arab—go there
check other if you care
Irish/ Arab
shape-shifting myths/ lies
your hands are tied—
your mind wrapped tight
fists raised high
to star spangled height
but our erasure is documented
twisted around my spine
othered out loud/ in broad daylight
an occupation/ a confiscation
a colonization/ a genocide—
today/ tomorrow/ yesterday
we claim—
birthright to land
right of return
freedom to speak
and unbridled peace—
no census needed
when freedom is achieved.
.
© Jay Mora-Shihadeh
Photo by Enayet Raheem on Unsplash
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