Ironic Prejudice

in the Daily Nurture
I traced out five little Stars and a Crescent
on red-penciled paper
then taped it on a stick;
"you are Singaporean."
she told us with knowing eyes
and the stature of high-heeled shoes

and this — I kept in my heart.

across the Peaceful Ocean and
across the Great Grass Expanse
I approached Them
expecting amicability;
"he has Cooties!"
she informed her companions
hazel eyes gleaming disgust
coffee-coloured hair turned up with indignation

and this — I kept in my heart.

in a teeming hallway
filled with footprints of boots
that had been in mud, slush and snow
he came up to me and said
"why don't you go back to China?"
his head of spiked blond hair
agitated in my direction
smirking with his blue eyes
while at this witty remark
his comrades found delight

and this — I kept in my heart.

in a class that taught as a second language
The Language that was my first
I read aloud material mired in fantasy Cathay;
and when a misconception I rejected
for the umpteenth time
she told me with her red-tinted hair
and raspy self-indulged voice
"look, I know over in Indonesia they...."
her green eyes surprised
at an exasperated protest

and this — I kept in my heart.

back in the land of my nationality
where I struggled to find my Home
I retained an Element
which distinguished me from my own
she told me with her black-coloured hair
and heightened voice of irritation
"can you stop speaking in your fake accent?"
an exchange of Looks circulated
around the project table

and this — I kept in my heart.

an Examination and a graduation
a choosing of a place
I pass by a walkway
that has never seen ice or snow
they inquired in their various coloured hairs
and various skins of dark to light
"hey Slanger. why do you slang?"
I reciprocated an indignation
that I once saw so long ago

and this — I kept in my heart.

but what hurts me the most is
when he told me with his combed blond hair,
fell complexion and crying blue eyes
"you are so racist!"
in that same hallway which never saw snow

it was a sob that I could not quell
because it was true.

and this: I keep the most in my heart.