He is an Iranian man
Olive-skinned, good-looking
He has a dream one night:
A classmate is praising him
For his high grades in math.
The classmate is blue-eyed
His skin as white as a fishbone
His blond hair set off by rose cheeks
He says, “Man, you have white
Skin, you’re so very intelligent!”
Angry, the Iranian grumbles:
“You have just offended me;
Without a ghostly white skin,
I’m intelligent and sharp unlike you;
I’m a proud olive-skinned man.”
“It’s just a metaphor, white
Skin I mean, for being brainy
And bright !” replies the racist
Bigot. “And you are just a jerk”
Makes known the Iranian.
When he wakes up
By the sound of his phone’s
Ringtone, he grabs it off the bed, “Hello?”
He answers as he searches for his pants.
It’s a female friend whom he admires
For her valor. He listens for a while,
Then he says, “Girl, you have balls,
You’re so very courageous!”
Angry, the woman grumbles:
“You have just offended me,
Without two smelly, ugly balls
I’m courageous unlike you;
I’m a proud woman with
Life-giving ovaries and womb!”
“It’s just a metaphor, having
Balls I mean, For being brave
And fearless !” replies the sexist
Bigot. “And you are just a jerk!”
Makes known the woman.
Dumb-founded and dazed,
He does not grasp what he has
Heard; he cannot fathom
The depth of his hypocrisy.
He is an Iranian man,
Olive-skinned, good-looking!
© Azadeh Azad, 2011
