I got trust issues.
So when you say you're a friend.
I'll be honest, I don't really believe you.
Hidden.
Embraced
by the 4 dark corners of my room.
where I always felt most safe.
averted from anyone - everyone's gaze
vibrating and vibrant in a sea of whites and greys - I am so out of place
Quick! blend in, turn down the saturation,
whatever you do, don't make any indentations
Don't deviate from the typical vibrations
Deviant! Heathen!
Hidden
where I learned to live. To survive.
But being hidden is no life
Hidden I cannot thrive
so I make a choice, open my throat and use my god given voice
I stand with pride
My human nature, like the stars I align
aura aglow with glitter and shimmer
mysterious mists of pink yellow and blue
It's June
So I say the words
I am pan. Love is Love and I will no longer hide
Queer and cute.
So what if I'm a little different inside.
Hey you! A voice booms.
Maybe a dozen. Maybe two.
Bible belt, it's something else, not America, SOS - they need some help!
Cut that nonsense out, you only do it for the clout, you're not gay you're just confused,
It says right here in this here book, fake news
that kind of thinking is not approved
you are much too colorful
said the 'scholar'; what a fool
Inclusive
My heart flutters, a sparkle of hope
maybe we can redeem ourselves, I think
I hope
Finally humans are being acknowledged and accepted
I mean its basic human reverence.
But where's the line of predatory corporations and true acceptance?
Is it a trend to be inclusive or is it genuine?
How do I trust you? Is it safe to let you in?
Do you see a human
or is this just the Trueman Show,
a delusion?
No pun
intended
It was just a joke. But what about my intentions?
Surely, what I meant matters more than how you took it?
We must be inclusive!
its the politically correct thing to do.
Its June!
Time to update the hashtags in our Bios
We'll paint some rainbows and hang some flags
Tone deaf marketing, performance art, sparkling
"yass honey"
You know, get real chummy with the -
Oops, almost let it slip, can't let them know I'm a hypocrite
They'll never know I secretly fund Fox News
They don't need to know my real views.
Performance
Finally, I attended my first pride event
What a high
What a rush
To be doused in glitter and rainbows
and scream "Love is Love"
But is it safe here? Is it safe to feel this joy without guilt?
Why do I carry a glimmer of rage mixed in with my glitter?
How do I align
How do I proceed?
Without making this collective pain all about me on IG?
So much suffering and death and unprocessed grief
To even have this conversation
Black Trans Bodies at the revolutionary lead
Black Trans bodies at the bloody pools of our feet.
oh - It's still not safe here.
And how the hell am I supposed to take legislative action when some days I can barely feed myself and wash my own ass and -
I can't even call my own family and friends
Calling congress? Hard pass.
How can it feel like such a profound leap forward and so much work left to do at the same time?
And why why why isn't it common sense to just - I don't know, accept each others differences and let people live their lives?
Enough mind banter, let me enter,
this experience.
So I dance. Dance as an act of resilience. Dance as an act of resistance.
Dance as an act of spite.
You can take away my pride, you can take away my rights, but you'll never take my light.
So I dance. I dance for those who can dance no longer. And sing for those who's voices are long gone.
I decide, I am allowed to feel joy.
How dare you? A whisper
How dare you??? Louder
How dare you feel the freedom of love while the world is engulfed in flames?
How dare you feel joy and celebrate life when the world is collapsing
Covert colonizers, narcissistic boomer greed, ozone holes pandemics and fast fashion
I want to feel joy at the acceptance and being seen
but am I safe here? Do I deserve this? When the work is unfinished
Yes I did it.
Yes I said it.
Yes I came out, and yes I danced.
But this is only the beginning.
As long as my sibling fall, I'll never feel like I'm winning.
So I ask you -
When the party's over
and the month turns to July,
where do you align?
rainbow or red white and blue
Are you really an Ally,
Or was that just fake news?
About the Creator
Ashley Antunes
Hey there, welcome to my head space. My special skill is alchemizing pain into power.
I write short stories about real life events, reflections that inspire, and poems.
If you want to support my art, tips are welcomed.
Comments (1)
This is amazing!!