You Made Me
Feel Illegal
You made me feel illegal
the way you eyed my hair
too-long-too-dyed-for-work hair
too-third-world-take-care-of-kids hair
too-got-to-clean-the-house hair
too-too-much-chat-about-the-family hair.
You made me feel illegal
my Wal-mart pants and blouses
my too-this-isn’t-how-we-dress-here clothes
too-cheap-to-even-work-here clothes
too-girly-to-do-your-job-here clothes
too-back-to-the-slum-with-you-dear clothes.
You made me feel illegal
pointing out my jewelry
“too gold” you say, “too gaudy”
my too-don’t-show-your-face-in-the-lobby jewelry
too-you-know-nothing-about-our-country jewelry
too-go-home-to-anchor-babies jewelry.
You made me feel illegal
like I’m too-you-can’t-speak-like-we-know how
too-got-no-right-to-talk now
too-got-to-go-and-wash-sticky-floors now too-better-go-cook-in-a-filthy-kitchen now
too-best-sweep-up-the-dirt-you-see now.
You made me feel illegal
too-nothing-more-than-low class
too-nothing-less-than loathed
You made me feel illegal.
You oughta be illegal.
You made me feel illegal
the way you eyed my hair
too-long-too-dyed-for-work hair
too-third-world-take-care-of-kids hair
too-got-to-clean-the-house hair
too-too-much-chat-about-the-family hair.
You made me feel illegal
my Wal-mart pants and blouses
my too-this-isn’t-how-we-dress-here clothes
too-cheap-to-even-work-here clothes
too-girly-to-do-your-job-here clothes
too-back-to-the-slum-with-you-dear clothes.
You made me feel illegal
pointing out my jewelry
“too gold” you say, “too gaudy”
my too-don’t-show-your-face-in-the-lobby jewelry
too-you-know-nothing-about-our-country jewelry
too-go-home-to-anchor-babies jewelry.
You made me feel illegal
like I’m too-you-can’t-speak-like-we-know how
too-got-no-right-to-talk now
too-got-to-go-and-wash-sticky-floors now too-better-go-cook-in-a-filthy-kitchen now
too-best-sweep-up-the-dirt-you-see now.
You made me feel illegal
too-nothing-more-than-low class
too-nothing-less-than loathed
You made me feel illegal.
You oughta be illegal.
©2012 Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt
Dedication
For my students and their loved ones--may you find peace and know you are not alone.
For my students and their loved ones--may you find peace and know you are not alone.
About the Author Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt
Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt is a poetry and prose writer
residing in Western Prince William County, VA, where she enjoys exploring
history, art, culture and nature. An advocate for preservation, conservation,
education and civic engagement, Katherine volunteers for several non-profit
organizations. She is a freelance, community writer for the regional News
& Messenger newspaper, teaches college English composition online and
teaches English as a Second Language (ESOL) students at an adult detention
center.
Katherine’s poetry and prose have appeared in various online and text journals. Poems from the Battlefield, a collection of her Civil War themed poetry, original and archival photos and period quotes, was published in 2009. Katherine’s children’s book, Furbily-Furld Takes on the World, was published in 2010. Approaching Felonias Park, a novel focusing on predatory lending, was released in November, 2011.
Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt
Community Writer for News and Messenger
www.InsideNova.com Community Writer for News and Messenger
www.WritersforaCause.org
Thank you so much for considering my poem!
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