Creative

Poem: ‘Mixed-Race Superhero’ by Elijah Macbean

0 581

By Elijah Macbean


I am the British chicken tikka masala,

The Pakistani fish and chips.

David Tennant in a kufi.

Imran Khan in a kilt.

I’m a James Saddique,

A Muhammad Smith.

Watching Hollywood on Eid,

Bollywood on Christmas.

I’m bridging the gap,

Blurring the lines.

Existing as a protest,

I’m in the middle of the picket being pulled at both sides,

Refusing to move.

Refusing to pick sides.

It’s not Jekyll and Hyde,

It’s Adam and Ibrahim. 

I’m Elijah from the Bible,

I’m Elijah from the Qu’ran.

I get on the bus when they tell me to go home,

No airport security necessary.

I’m the olive coloured olive branch,

An open-faced kid.

With two cultures on my back,

Fighting for my preference,

A love triangle.

I’m polyamorous in this regard,

Practising disregard

for your mono.

I’m a protest vote,

The gentrification and immigration.

Sarfaraz Ahmed with three lions on his shirt.

Wayne Rooney in a shalwar kameez.

Tommy Robinson’s nightmare,

Sadiq Khan’s dream.

I am multiculturalism.

I am both.

I am neither.

About the author / 

aAh!

aAh! Magazine is Manchester Metropolitan University's arts and culture magazine.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More News Stories:

  • Queer Lit: Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ bookstore on building a legacy in Manchester

    Featured image: Molly Goble and Nicola Henry In the last five years, hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people have risen by 112%, underscoring the critical need for safe, inclusive spaces where queer individuals can find a sense of belonging. Amid this crisis, Queer Lit has emerged as a sanctuary in the form of a literary refuge…

  • UNITOM’s Tim Bell: “Independent magazines have the most interesting things to say”

    By Evie-Iris Atkins and Megan Levick. Featured image: UNITOM. As part of our new series In Print: Celebrating Print Culture in Manchester, we speak to UNITOM head publishing buyer Tim Bell. “Celebrating the worlds of visual culture” is what Northern Quarter magazine and bookshop UNITOM does best, says head publishing buyer Tim Bell. With an…

  • The Manchester family restaurants giving back to the community

    Featured image: Ruby Sharp Good food has the power to bring people together, and in Manchester, this couldn’t be more true. We explore how family-run restaurants are going above and beyond for their community. Since opening in 2019, Fress, located in the Northern Quarter, has made a name for itself not just for its food,…