2 Poems by Ellen Huang

m i n o r i t y

 

calling minorities 
reverse-racist 
for wanting representation
or recognition
is like calling the poor 
materialistic 
for wanting 
a crumb
of 
what 
you 
have.

 

©Ellen Huang

 

 

INCENSE[D]

 

A white man taught our youth one day

How hungry are you? Miracles, all you can eat

Pray for a vision, wipe doubt off your brow, pray

Call the boys brave and call the girls sweet.

 

A white man taught our youth one day

Crossed off all our fears, no excuse

Pray for an image, think of it this way

You’re on the safe side, not those who refuse.

 

A white man taught our youth one day

Told stories of a village haunted, possessed

Pray for a dream, like the dragon I slay

I dreamed of the devil, I saved them from death.

 

A white man taught our youth one day

I asked of the dragon, which the East holds good

Pray for the truth, whole cultures can be swayed

Culture, I don’t think he understood.

 

A white man taught our youth one day

Kept asking what race our youngest one was

Pray o’er the city, eyes closed and hands raised

Christianity is as the Christian does.

 

A white man taught our youth one day

A dysfunctional heart if you don’t jump up in praise

Pray for extraversion, for spiritual highs and craze

Introversion is lukewarm, getting in your way.

 

A white man taught our youth one day

He shouted so loud and scared us as kids

Pray for the nations, we’re all in the same fray

Persecution is whether they frown or forbid.

 

A white man taught our youth one day

Testimony of evil incense destroyed

Wonder if he knew incense was how they prayed

But at least he told of butterfly tattoos for the Glory.

 

A white man taught our youth one day

Second time story, I heard more completely

Pray for the human beings, trapped in tradition’s way

Redemption and beauty, I could feel more deeply.

 

A white man taught our youth one day

His words from a man of color in the Middle East.  

I’m praying that this generation knows they were saved

Not from their heritage, their roots are no beast.

 

A white man taught our youth one day

His words taken from a man who welcomed us all  

Who prayed that these beloved, these friends not behave

But embrace and rejoice and adore again, in whole.

 

 

©Ellen Huang