Form & Function
Why does the poem use lists instead of regular stanzas?
To mirror the repetitive, procedural nature of TSA screenings.
Which sarcastic word in the poem is accusatory of the racist system?
"Polite"
Who is the speaker
The speaker is a young brown male traveler.
How do the line breaks make the poem feel like airport screening?
They mirror the interruptions of airport security—waiting, being halted, and being checked.
Why is the line “How polite of the screeners” not actually a compliment?
The line is sarcastic and criticizes them for hiding bias behind politeness.
Why does the speaker list names like “Ahmed” and “Ali”?
It shows that the experience is shared by many people, not just the speaker.
What does "goateed other" mean?
It means being treated like an outsider based on appearance.
Why is open form important to this poem’s purpose?
It allows the poem to feel uneven and irregular, like TSA screening.
How does the speaker criticize the system without sounding angry?
The speaker avoids shouting and instead uses calm, measured language, which exposes the unfairness.
How does the poem show that the speaker is judged without doing anything wrong?
The TSA searches him more because of how he looks, not because of his own actions, but out of suspicion.
What is the main message about TSA's fear and power?
Fear allows them to bias certain people and pretend it is normal.