Will You Feel Safer

WILL YOU FEEL SAFER

If I don’t linger

in your bookstore aisles

flipping pages

or taking extra time

finding the correct

size or color in your

department store

if I don’t feel

the fabric texture

of the pants you sell

forcing you to pretend

to work nearby

neglecting your job

to keep an eye on me

Will you be at ease

if I don’t call your

business phone

and ask you in

accented tongue

to clean my house

to fix my washer

to mow my lawn

to work in my yard

to mend my shoes

Will you be surprised

if I reveal to you

my occupation

if I tell you

of my hobbies

if I am not pushing

a custodian’s cart

or holding a mop

broom or brush

and I am instead

about to lecture

at a science convention

By María T. Balogh --published in Bellerive 2007