Tuesday is a Trend: Part II

I.

Fila cream tennis shoes,

Perry Ellis jeans and turtleneck,

Black leather European cut jacket,

Gucci wallet in pants,

I'm ready to do my Tuesday ritual.

Workman-like Mazda truck,

Drive to the place where wine is sold,

Park vehicle,

Go in establishment,

I'm ready to meet new people.

Tonight will be different. I hope.

II.

The night is cool,

On the patio,

I receive stares,

Unfriendly stares,

I wonder what I'm doing wrong.

Is it because of my skin color?

After all, I'm the darkest being here.

Is it because of my fashion?

May be I'm too Bay Area for them,

May be my influences from the East is showing.

Is it my attitude?

They sense my difference, or rather indifference,

My uncomfortableness,

My otherness,

My incomprehensibleness.

Tonight will be different. I hope.

III.

Sitting down,

At the bar,

Drinking port,

Ordering vodka and cranberry juice,

I want to forget.

A man comes by me,

I recognize him,

We speak,

He says he like black guys.

I say oh and ask why,

He mentions my blackness, my African features,

Are like blond hair, blue eyes, brunettes,

He grew up in an all white area,

All black men are troubled beings,

Interesting, I say.

Interesting, I think.

I cannot comment anymore,

I wish his kind will go away.

Tonight will be different. I hope.

The end.