After The Parade

When we’ve all gone home,

Still glitter on my face,

Shyer than when it shone

In the sun’s warm rays,

That held us all safely

Stronger, in the daze

Of the breaking of walls

I used to dream about this,

Loud liberation

An uncompromising announcement

Of my worldly vocation

Years went by, unnoticed

Careful curation

Of chosen family and ease and,

Earned celebrations

But still, a speechless sadness squats

In darkest depths of my soul

A distant dismay at lack of

Compassion, that makes me feel

small

Sandy memories of jasmines

And iron gates and, football in the streets

And vine leaves and salt water and

Innocent sleep

Maybe I’m asking for too much,

For unconditional love,

Religion will have people believing

Only to expect that from above

And I’d made my amends with

Selective transparency

Believing inherently

That truth comes with a fee

Still, it didn’t stop my heart breaking

Or the inevitable aching

That came as a result of

The rumbling and shaking

Of shattered realities, these

Fateful fatalities

The severing of ties,

Separation of families

Over fear of the unknown, and the anger it brings

Wondering how love could be made to be so ugly

When it can make even silenced hearts sing

But truth has its own agenda, And that is to set you free

So take comfort in knowing, you’re one step closer to liberty