He walks

Four blocks

From the skeleton

Of Ground Zero.

A leisurely stroll

To the local store,

The 7-Eleven

At Warren and Church.

Yet before anything,

Beyond when it will

Even happen,

He finds himself

Under the wary eyes

Of his neighbors,

Under the burden

Of suspicion

That he does not

Deserve.

He does not have

The chance

To define himself

As his features,

His sharp nose,

Sun-tanned skin,

Foreign accent,

Have already faced

Definition

In the eyes

Of those who simply

Watch and stare

And judge

The wrong terrorist.