Sweetie

Bu2

He looked like Elvis
behind the counter
handing me cigarettes
ringing up my beer

I watched his pelvis
under the white coat
The clean deli white coat
he had to wear

He called me sweetie
I had to ask his name
It was Mohammed
but he said, “Call me Mo”

So Americanized
I was so hypnotized
that when he called me sweetie
I thought he was talking to me

I’d ask him how he feels about
all of this scream and shout
but he left a year ago
even his friends don’t know
where he lives now
and I wonder how
he feels now

So Americanized

So hypnotized

Did the propaganda lie?