This Thing Called Discrimination Poem by RIC BASTASA

it is when you walk together
with someone you barely know
towards a place
where there is a door still closed
to open at 9 a.m.
and both of you wait
for the right hour
and then the right hour comes
and a strict lady opens the door
carries a folder and calls out a name

just her name
and she smiles at her
and she smiles at her too
and then she lets her in and
she looks at you
without any civility
and she closes the door and
you do not see anymore
what is going inside the room
something so private
the door tells you that

you feel the pain
and yet you are not leaving still

i am telling you
you're the craziest Asian that i have ever known
in this whole cruel white world.