From The Ground Up

Tue, 07/16/2019 - 20:47 -- Jkrouse

You hide behind pages withered with millenia of hatred 

Each letter an excuse for you to say "I don't care if they hold hands,

Just don't do it front of my kids."

But we hold hands in front of your kids, and maybe steal a kiss,

And the book tells you to say, "I don't agree with your lifestyle."

But we live our lives, and maybe we do so loudly

And the book tells you to say, "God said one man and one woman."

But we get married, and maybe we adopt children

And the book tells you to say, "You're going to hell."

But we keep on coming back, stronger each time

And the book tells you to say, "Fags, dykes and trannies doom our nation."

So we go to a parade and cover ourselves in glitter and dance in front of the fire and brimstone

And did you know we have a book too?

Each page formed of light too bright to look at

Bound by the nerve to fight back

Some letters written from inside a closet

Some smeared in the plagued blood of our sisters and brothers whose death you saw as deserved

And pages we add every day. When we kiss in front of you

When we're beaten on the subway because we won't kiss in front of you

When we dress in drag

When we drag our dresses behind us to the homeless shelter

When we tell you "this body of mine doesn't feel right"

When you address us the wrong way because you can't be bothered 

We have a book too.

And maybe ours wasn't delivered by a divine hand

But it sure as hell deserves to be sacred.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This poem is about: 
Me
My family
My community
My country
Our world

Comments

Additional Resources

Get AI Feedback on your poem

Interested in feedback on your poem? Try our AI Feedback tool.
 

 

If You Need Support

If you ever need help or support, we trust CrisisTextline.org for people dealing with depression. Text HOME to 741741