One day when I was young and spry

A Serbian Soldier was happening by

He saw me smile but asked me why

“Kako se zoves?” He asked me.

“Emina,” I said, “And I’m only three.”

I can’t explain the look he imposed upon me.

You are Bosnian Muslim scum, he said.

We Serbians simply want you dead.

With that, he kicked me in my head.

When he was done, he walked away.

Dead eye stare, nothing to say.

Hand on gun as he walked on by,

I left bruised, snot-nosed, to cry.

*Kako se zoves is a phrase in Bosnian that basically asks “What is your name?” By knowing someone’s full name, in Eastern Europe one can usually identify someone else’s ethnic background, as one can usually not tell the difference between Bosnians and Serbians based simply on looks.