Please Don’t Be Scared

There aren’t many people like me,
On the train.
In my religious garbs
And my Kofi cap.
I saw your darting eyes
And I tried to appear less frightening,
I flattened my backpack
I plastered a small smile on my face
Even though it was a Monday morning.
But as I sat down,
Your eyes hovered over my bag
And I feared you were scared.
If it’s not you, then it’s someone else
Or my own mind
Polluted like all others
By the media machine,
Are you frightened of me?
Should I be scared of you?
Or should I just be scared to be me?