On Being White

I began by competing with TV

loving the sitcoms

assuming I should look like them

talk like them

quick answer to everything

with a flick of my long blond hair

or thought

anything that came from me

was observation

and hopefully truth

being honest with myself

... it was the best I could do

until I learned there was so much

to learn and after all I didn't know

everything.

That's alright isn't it?

Until I listened to those

who came from somewhere else

like I came from England

full of confidence

until someone said

I have low self esteem

what does that mean?

Crash?

Depression flipped me upside

down and shut me up

until full of rage

I frightened myself

rushed out the door

leaving my children in bed

to go and find someone

to beat up!