Six months ago
We celebrated
Stonewall Riots'
Fiftieth anniversary.
Now
Anger and fear
Replace jubilation.
President Trump strips
Medical and legal protections
Targetting LGBTQ+ communities.
In Canada
We've a saying
If the US sneezes
Canada catches a cold.
Not this bleeping time
If I can help it.
We've fought
Too hard and long
For our rights.
Paid in full
As witnessed
Through murders
And suicides.
Still we must fight
Kicking at the darkness
'Til it bleeds daylight*
Defending our rights.
Turning anger
Into love
With our Pride parades
For those - with hate.
Nothing
Is ever given
Without a price
Or a struggle.
Our mental
And physical scars
Form a road map.
Of our journey
To acceptance
And healing
That never ends.
Therisa © 2019
Author's note:
*Thank you, Bruce Cockburn, for writing these lyric, from your song, Lovers In Dangerous Times, which Toronto's own, the BareNakedLadies have covered.
It has been a long journey, to complete this poem, over the past 3 months. During this period, I've struggled with serious bouts of depression and writer's block. For my American LGBTQ+ cousins, I hope Trump is removed from office, sooner than later, in a manner that stops, this witch hunt garbage. So the healing can begin. Although, I fear that it'll take decades, to undo the damage already done.
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