Sly Bigotry

The black men of my city

used to walk the dawn streets

in constant anger.

They did not fear

the nighttime men in pale sheets,

but wilted under the slow sneer,

patronizing hand,

bad joke, nervous glance,

but all that changed

after 9/11,

when democratic death collected,

regardless of race, creed, color.

~

turn the page

~

words: Gary Beck, New York
image: Peter Schwarz, Maine (Sitrah Ahra)