Poetry About Islamophobia

The teacher pauses at one name as though difference were a warning. A headline makes millions of lives answer for one stranger's act. On the train, a woman measures every glance against the cloth she chose. A mosque window breaks, and the morning prayer continues behind plywood. Fear becomes policy when stereotype is mistaken for evidence.

On the train, a woman measures every glance against the cloth she chose. A neighbor arrives with flowers and stays to help sweep the glass. Solidarity means standing near enough to share the risk of speaking. Muslim life is ordinary, varied, joyful, doubtful, devout, and human. Safety cannot depend on appearing less visible or less oneself. No one owes an apology for belonging to a faith.

The teacher pauses at one name as though difference were a warning. Fear becomes policy when stereotype is mistaken for evidence. Children should not learn to edit their faith for another person's comfort. Muslim life is ordinary, varied, joyful, doubtful, devout, and human. The repaired window gathers afternoon light across the carpet. No one owes an apology for belonging to a faith.