Poem:
Why do you teach me one thing
And behave towards me on the contrary?
Why do you teach me to tolerate anything
And fail to accept me completely?
You ask me to respect every human being
But you pick and choose the side of me to accept
Where is respect if I’m free to practice what you believe in
But I cannot practice the faith to which I attest?
Why are you placing your ego over the authority of the deity I worship?
Why don’t you see that being different religiously should never sever our relationship?
Why do you treat me in a way that makes me question my citizenship?
Better to stop compelling me to join your fellowship,
than to force me to go against the God I worship
Ma’am, I can wear hijab and ace the test
The Ramadan I observe is not an indictment of my zest
It’s high time you gave me the same opportunity as you give to the rest
Put on the same pedestal, I can equally reach for the best
I love you ma’am but just,
give me a space to roost in your nest.
Peace!
Listen to the recitation of the poem in the audio slide below:
