The Difference Between Trayvon and Me



see the looks,

the jerks, the stares.

i hear the silent crunch

as fingers clench

wallets, jewelry, purses.

Lives.

i laugh inside, smile out

and then they smile, relieved

(he’s different

he won’t rape

or kill

or rob.)

but the fingers

they never loosen,

the jewelry jingles not

and the smiles grow only wider

smiles all the way home

smiles reflected in shiny HD televisions

and bright Ferrari Benzes

smiles at happy children

privileged, jovial, functioning children

smiling parents at smiling children

who smiling tuck them into bed

and kiss them with burning, smiling

lips

and me?

well, I’m still here in the road

my swords sheathed

until another comes

just as scared, just as shaken

and i tear open my mouth

showing that deep nigger grin

and those bright nigger eyes

whispering, begging:

(you don’t have to be afraid

see, see my teeth? my eyes?

i’m not all brown!)

and they like that

they smile at that

smile all the way home

but the fingers

they never loosen