Form & Function
Why does the poem use lists instead of regular stanzas?
To mirror the repetitive, procedural nature of TSA screenings.
Which word in the poem sounds polite but is actually sarcastic?
"Polite"
Who is the speaker
The speaker is a young brown male traveler.
How do line breaks mimic the experience of airport screening?
They mirror the interruptions of airport security—waiting, being halted, and being redirected.
Why is the line “How polite of the screeners” ironic?
The line is ironic because politeness normally suggests kindness, but here it masks discriminatory actions.
Why does the speaker list names like “Ahmed” and “Ali”?
Listing names shows that the experience is shared by many people, not just the speaker.
Why is open form essential to this poem’s critique of “randomness”?
It allows the poem to feel unstable and irregular, contradicting the idea that TSA screening is orderly or fair.
How does the poem maintain emotional restraint while still criticizing the system?
The speaker avoids shouting or overt anger and instead uses calm, measured language.
How does the poem show identity being imposed rather than chosen?
The TSA labels the speaker based on appearance and name, reducing him to a stereotype. His identity is defined by the system’s suspicion, not by his own actions or character.