Alienated

Lights from a galaxy
could take billions of years to reach
me/us/them
racism from a stranger’s milky way
only takes seconds

I/we remember the first time
I/we experienced hatred
estranged thanks to this other skin
How lonely it is out in space
fathered in mystery; lost in unholy lure

We/they were here
It is phenomenon that I/we even survive
Histories still unfolding
Will I/we/they be rewritten like slavery?
The Holocaust? Witches?

Freedom and idealized beauty must feel divine
as far & as distant as stars
for me/us/them

Emanuel Xavier is author of several poetry books including Selected Poems of Emanuel Xavier and Love(ly) Child. His books have been finalists for International Latino Book Awards and Lambda Literary Awards and his work has appeared in Poetry, A Gathering of the Tribes, Best American Poetry, and elsewhere.