please do not assume

about who I am

or what I stand for

based on whether my eyes

are brown or blue

or the color of my skin tone

do not judge based on

who I pray to or not pray to

do not based me on

where I come from

or the languages I speak

do not make assumptions

on my job title

or the uniform I wear

on what music I listen to

who I chose to date or love,

or whether I wear a bikini,

a suit, a dress or a hijab

please don't judge based

on how I wear my hair

because a professor once told me

when you assume, you make an ass

out of you and me

and it is the wisest thing

I have heard so far

 - Also published at http://www.poemsbyarcadiamaria.blogspot.com