We spoke, right after you had been

Assailed by hateful bigotry,

And though you had much good to tell,

The other part still stayed with me

So color: when we all are small

We learn them, pick our favorite ones –

It’s everywhere, in this, the same

Among our daughters and our sons

But what is it makes people fade,

And play the haters baneful part?

Why does skin color matter more

Than all the shades

Of heart?