You see my brown skin
And assume I'm a ****.

You see my hijab
And assume I'm a terrorist.

You see the smile on my face
And assume I'm happy.

You hear my words
And assume I'm okay.

But I am not.

Instead I am broken.
Yet I am also strong.

I am dark and rule-following.
I am peaceful and Muslim.

You assume based on
Society's POV.

If you smile
You must be happy.

Fox, CNN, any media
Tells you I am a terrorist.
So the names I get called
And the extra security checks
Are extremely upsetting.

The murders of black folk
Is either considered appropriate
Or it's "black on black crime"
So it's not taken seriously.

Who are you gonna believe
Me or those who don't know me?

You wear leather
As dark as your heart
You speak words
As sharp as a knife

You smell of cigarettes
And sometimes cologne
You wreak of Jack Daniel's
But mostly depravity

You lurk in the shadows
And prey on the young
You desire a girl
But only one night

You tell her your lies
To trick her to stay
And then like a coward
You run away

she is fire
loud, raging, shouts
indignant flames of fury

she is ice
sarcastic, cold, rolled eyes, raised eyebrows
scornful jabs deeper than knives.

she is stone
silent, hidden tears, jaw set, hard eyes
infuriating, feigned indifference.

she is angry.

that isn’t what i meant to say
that isn’t what i’d do,
but what i really should’ve,
i haven’t but a clue.

do not cross the ocean,
never sail the seven seas
if you want to never
want to see lands again like these

if you do decide to go
to step onto a boat
don't say i didn't warn you
that you'll always be afloat

don't say i didn't warn you,
don't say i didn't care
if you do become a pirate
it's not my fault, i swear.