Pride - Sande Anfang

[Larry Robinson]

Pride
 
How shall we stamp this child—
black or white / gay or straight / male or female?
Addicted to polarity we lean on labels
cling to opposites and extremes.
Whole language or phonics / gay or straight
neuro-typical or neuro-divergent / cisgender or trans.
What will be the next hot brand?
We’re people of the spectrum
and thank the goddesses for that.
Not to be is to not be real.
We inhabit the shadows
seesaw between poles—
north and south / black and white 
gay and straight / left and right.
Let’s liberate the energy
we cram in pigeonholes and definitions
divert it into kindness, love, community, self-care.
Into celebration of our breath, still-beating hearts
the matching crimson of our blood.
The joyful child in us wants to celebrate:
artist of the belly laugh
spinner of compassion’s tears.
Goddess, help us lift the yoke of labels
from our hobbled bones.
Let us love who we love
be who we are meant to be.
Judge us by our words and deeds.
Measure our successes
by the quality of love we spend
and what we keep.
Embrace the perfect fulcrum where it rests.
What’s not to love about the rainbow?
	- Sande Anfang