no place

what if it were me
lying on the sidewalk
shivering, displaced
devoid of hope
robbed of pride.
i can't know;
it's never been me.
no place for hate.

what if it were me
lying to myself
a stranger among friends
cursing nature's irony
alone at the prom.
i can't know;
it's never been me.
no place for hate.

what if it were me
skin of ebon
hearing the murmurs
acrid curses at my back
unwelcome.
i can't know;
it's never been me.
no place for hate.

what if it were me
lying to protect him
frightened, confused
hiding the bruises
despising myself.
i can't know;
it's never been me.
no place for hate.

what if it were me
lying in that bed
weak, despondent
aware of my fate
whispers down the hall
"don't let that one touch you;
there's no cure."
i can't know;
it's never been me.
no place for hate.

what if it were me
one among trillions
struggling through
dubious of the next endeavor
to exchange judgement 4 compassion
to penetrate the ignorance.
i know;
it's you, too.
no place for hate.

jules anslow
november 1993
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