Does it matter
That I’m from
A different place
Though born
In the same nation?
That my influences
Are sun and sea
And the strictness of West Indian life
Not the cold grey laxity of the British way?

Does it matter
That I learned
A brighter grammar
And the Queen’s so-called English
That I went to school
And stayed in school
That I don’t smoke
And hardly drink
But can still have a good time?

Does it matter
That my skin’s
A different colour?
Though my thoughts
Are much the same,
You’ll never know,
Repelled by external differences.

Does it matter?
It obviously
Matters
To you.