The Wall of Prejudice

 

Their smile is warm and reassuring

well rehearsed and convincingly given

But behind this veneer is a dark wall

which conceals a true and sinister identity

 

To be in a minority is seen as not to conform

to pose a threat and challenge the norm

Muslim, black, gay or zoroastrian

the beaming smile remains the same

 

The smile is false, rooted in ignorance and fear

often it comes with platitudes galore

It is deceptive, deceitful with mal intent

all minorities are alert to this

 

I once had a friend called Adam

tall, black and indeed handsome

With courage I told him I was gay

to which he replied, well we have something in common

 

His response left me bewlidered

but then I came to realise that

we both belonged to a minority group

these few words cemented a true bond of friendship

 

The girls flocked to Adam as he was adorable

he would wink at me and say, any nice guys here?

I would smile back and nod

to this day he is a true friend indeed

We accepted each other for who we were