Miami Airport
Raymond Antrobus
Poem

why didn’t you answer me back there?
you know how loud these things are on my waist?
you don’t look deaf?
can you prove it?
do you know sign language?
I.D.?
why didn’t I see anyone that looked like you
when I was in England?
why were you in Africa?
why don’t you look like a teacher?
who are these photos of?
is this your girlfriend?
why doesn’t she look English?
what was the address you stayed at?
what is the colour
of the bag you checked in?
what was your address again?
is that where we’re going to find dope?
why are you checking your phone?
can I take your fingerprints?
why are your palms sweating?
you always look this lost?
why did you tell me the your bag was red?
how did it change colour?
what colour are your eyes?
how much dope will I find in your bag?
why isn’t there dope in your bag?
why did you confuse me?
why did you act strange when there was nothing on you?
would you believe
what I’ve seen in the bags of people like you?
you think you’re going
to go free?
what did you not hear?