What did I do, my friend to you,

Did I ever do you wrong?

We’ve never met, before and yet,

Your hate for me is strong.

You have no cause, no, none at all,

But still you call me names,

You break my bones; say I should go home,

Though our nationality is the same.

For I was born one Sunday morn,

Not fifteen miles from here,

And you, I believe, not far from me,

I’m told the self same year.

Yet you’d still tear my flesh and beat me near death,

Then leave me to die alone,

For no cause to state except your hate,

And because our skins are different tones.

And all can tell, though I wish you well,

You return nothing but aggression,

You swear and shout, push me about,

And steal or damage my possessions.

Does that make sense to you my friend?

For it makes no sense to me,

How can a shade inspire such hate,

And animosity?

How can a creed create the need,

To vilify a race?

Because light refracts, white or black,

From off another’s face.

By

S.E.Ralph 

20-6-2019