The Shameful Stamp

• Imagine

if the anti-Irish sentiment

that waned mid century 

was as relentless and unremitting

as the anti-semitism that still permeates 

so many cultures of the world

we were donkeys fresh off the boat

both a description of our brawn

and a disparagement

micks, and paddies, and harps

bogtrotters if we did not have the privilege of education

in southern parts, hillbillies was a term that first applied to us

but now

we have St. Patrick's Day

and parades

where everyone is suddenly Irish

and begging a kiss

but they

have protests

with torches

and hate