The refugee.(Poem)

 
THE REFUGEE 
 
   A woman wants to buy mascara. 
   She speaks with a foreign accent. 
   The check-out girl explains it is a luxury item 
   and not permitted on the government's voucher. 
   The woman holds out the mascara. 
   Only milk, bread, the girl says, 
   and to someone at the next till: She's from Kosovo. 
 
   People frown. 
   Mascara? For a refugee? 
   From taxpayers `money? 
   The woman hears the words milk, bread, 
   holds out the mascara and voucher, 
   gestures at the till. 
   The check-out girl shakes her head. 
 
   Someone says how on Liberation Day 
   mirrors and lipsticks were handed out, 
   ...