Ola Compadre! Poem by Alexandre Nodopaka

there was a time
when my bosses were
in their late 20's early 30's something
during them dot com times
and i was already in my 50's
very conscious of my ivory showing
then i remembered much farther back
when i was embarrassed by my parents
speaking loud in public their native language
and though most Moroccans spoke French
i always felt alien but never
as alien as when I came to Boston in '59
and they bestowed me with an alien green card
just as the USA was fresh out of McCarthyism
but even a few days ago at the checkout stand
when i fumbled too long with my credit card
some impatient local red neck behind me spurted
go back where you came from
so I got a close look at him and figured
he was of Aryan descent
so i spat back at him that with his name
probably being Bergkamp or Engelbrecht
he ought to join the Fascists
back in Valhalla land
which shut him up like real quick
while the Hindu gal at the counter
smiled with understanding and
the wetback next to me patted my back
said Ola, Compadre!