Melanie McKay - Two Poems
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Stop and Search
Stop!
A man on a bike,
hood up,
scarf round mouth –
to keep the fumes out?
Stop!
The blipblip
and blue flashing
lights call out.
Stop!
An officer demands –
“Name, address –
do you have ID?”
Your pockets
were turned out;
a pale hand
pats you down,
fingering the stitching
between jacket
and hood.
You smile and speak
slowly –
you have no ID.
An Esperanto exchange
on the walkie-talkie
confirms
no warrants
for your arrest.
They say good night
not sorry, you get back
on your bike.