Paint My Pride

They tried to take my colors

but I inked them in my skin

injected them into my veins

drew them so deep into my lungs

that my breath came out in puffs

of brightest cyan

and deepest scarlet.

They called them garish

unsightly

abominations against the eyes

yet I always wondered

if my colors were meant to be hated

why did I have them?

Why was I given greens

that made trees envious

and purples sweeter

than any plum could hope to be?

Why was I gilded

in golden saffron

and set ablaze

in vivid orange?

So I refused to be taken.

I painted them up and down my spine

bracing it in unbreakable hues

learning to take pride in their vibrancy

in how I made them mine

in how I held them in my heart

and refused to let them fade.

They tried to dip me

head to toe in bleach

but only succeeded

in removing their stains from my soul.