Today it’s the American Red Cross
It could be for children of any color suffering anywhere
But the Irish lad is collecting for the American Red Cross
though you don’t want to be drawn into conversation
though you are broke
you allow him to lure you in
because you like his green eyes and his accent
You had seen eyes that color once
on a girl on the cover of a National Geographic magazine
when you were a young child sitting in a doctor’s office somewhere
“They won’t let me give blood” He says
“It would make people talk funny” He says
Though you know it makes no difference
you can’t help thinking some of his blood
might make your eyes green and your skin so white
You realize you are more than halfway towards becoming
the person you have long yearned to be
inside your own skin
with your ordinary eyes
and your own accent
