Hateful Differences

 

The Black Plague came with an unexpected vengance

after many more had wreaked their destructive power.

AIDS arrived, the Gay Plague

followed by COVID.

As they came and went, hate rermained,

It sat on the bridge of life,

filled with prejudice and strife.

 

It was prejudice,

the silent killer

which cast the dice.

Black, coloured, white or brown,

Gay, straight, bisexual or queer.

Labels were pinned on all lapels

like yellow stars or pink triangles.

 

Arabs, Jews, Latinos and Africans set aside,

it built walls and detention camps.

Those who were poor queued at food banks

prejudice is a many pronged fork

and for many, endless days of prolonged suffering.

Buried alive, gassed and shot

was for many their parting shot

 

Separate development, peoples lived apart

with the sound of barking hounds

which were trained to bay, night and day.

Dignity was stripped away and laid bare

for the world to see, to stand and stare.

People were spat upon and degenerated

and forever humiliated