My Father Told Me

This is... whatever kind of poem we need to have by the 11th. It's also a "first line" poem from the list we got on the 9th.

This feels unfinished. I'd like ANY feedback you have about finishing it. Anything else is cool too though =-/

It's written from my point of view.... 7-10 years ago. My father is racist, sexist, and homophobic. There's not much I like about him.

My father told me,
"Stay close, they'll touch you in bad places"
I remember that day clearly
We were at the outlet mall in Castle Rock
Two men were walking toward us
One had a colorful bracelet
Like mom's friend Jim
Just before we crossed to the other side of the sidewalk
I saw them kiss
And I became afraid

My father told me,
"Stay close and keep your hands on your pockets"
I remember that night clearly
We were walking down the street in Denver
We passed by a group of people
They were dancing to fast music
Like Michael from church
Just before he pulled me behind him
I saw their skin was dark
And I became afraid

My father told me,
"Stay close. Let's walk the dog."
I remember that morning clearly
I was playing with the dog in the front yard
A car with a man and a woman inside parked across the street
The woman looked angry
Like Heather gets with Dad
Just before we turned the corner out of the neighborhood
I saw the woman was wearing a headscarf
And I became afraid

I went back to mom's house

My mom's friend Jim was there
He saw me walk in the front door
He said, "Your mom isn't home"
I was scared
He asked if I was hungry
He made me grilled cheese and tomato soup
He had a colorful bracelet on
And he was my friend

I went to school on Monday

I was paired up with a dark-skinned boy
He saw the pokemon cards in my pocket
He told me, "I like pokemon, too"
I was scared
He asked if we could play
He had dark skin
And he was my friend

I got into 3rd grade

There was a girl with a headscarf in English
She saw me sitting alone
She asked me, "May I sit here?"
I was scared
I told her why my dad told me people like her were bad
She asked how someone could be so horrible
She wore a headscarf
And she was my friend.