All I did was love

After the parade the joy, laughter, and love

dissipates into the broken corners of my mind

the voice of my father speaks shattering the joy

it hushes the laughter to silence

and subdues the love.

I have a disease

a disorder akin to alcoholism

I was going through “a phase” because a person cannot love both men and women

I was told to pray the gay away.

When I was engaged to a woman

I was brought to the church to be cleansed

When I was engaged to a woman

I was told my father wouldn’t walk me down the aisle

When I was engaged to a woman

I lost his support

His unconditional love tethered and tattered into nothingness.

All I did was love and I was condemned for it

All I did was love and I was abandoned for it

All I did was love

I loved

I loved someone

I loved a woman.