as she passed by in her traditional gypsy skirt
embroidered with sequins and coins
one man created an illusion of intimacy in his mind
while another said
beautiful yes…but she’s a
gypsy
exiled
punishment
harboring
jesus
myth
nazis
systematic
genocide
concentration camp
forced labor
imprisonment
extermination
killed on sight
einsatzgruppen
history’s largest
mass murder
after war
assimilation schemes
restrictions
cultural freedom
language
and
music
banned
labeled
socially degraded stratum
women sterilized
state policy
had they but know her history
or that her love for country was as unconditional
as her beauty
they might have rethought their words
if not
then they are no more than fools
for seeing just a gypsy
Poem inspired by comments from http://jadepaloma.wordpress.com/
Read Between the Minds 
I like how this addresses the superficiality of our associations when developing our impressions of one another…what would you think of me if you saw me? what would your judgement be?
Moses485
I remember reading that comment and I love that this poem was about her.
You know….
Wow… just wow… I am moved… to tears. Thank you a million times for this. May God bless you and your talent. Do keep on writing. It’s bliss to read your daily reflections/refractions of reality.
I enjoy the way you’ve experimented with list-poetry as of late. It recalls Whitman, who used listing as a literary device and poetry tool, though the spacing of your form is unique, as each line break and space serves as to emphasize your point. Political and cultural study through poetry is so important and too many run from it! Glad you took this head on!
This one hits home on many levels. Nice work, Martin.
I remember that comment and knew instantly that’s what the poem was about. Love it.
well done work – thanks
This is lovely. Often poets can keep the flame of social justice lit through dark times. Nice work.
I just read ZOLI by Colum McCann; you just wrote the entire book in one poem.
Wonderful.
Pearl
Thank you very much for such a wonderful complement and for visiting my blog.
Nice poem. You are really talented.
Paul Celan’s “She combs her hair” – your bird and gypsy have much in common with the woman in that poem. Well done.
This is amazing, so thoughtful and insightful.
wow…. lovely poem martin…
/rethought their words/
strong line that one…
just 2 words.. Super Splendid 😀
i like your experimental poetry and the modes you take to bring the point across…this piece is very touching.