Strength is one thing
And power is another
Power is taken or
Assigned it is corrupt
It demeans and disgusts
But strength burns in
The hearts of righteousness
It is the flame
That attracts and drives
It will overcome power
Strength is the hope
Taking back what’s stolen
The strength that’s required
To brandish my sword
I cannot muster and
Leave to youth but
Rather I hone wit
Sharpen sarcasm and whittle
And pluck the mantle
Hairs from the shoulders
Of demigods theocrats and
Buffoons who wear such
Not because of triumphs
But because of confiscation
Crippling those bullies at
Their weaknesses their lack
Of intelligence and morality
After our Supreme Courts
Decision to eliminate autonomy
Over a woman’s body
I heard the oddest
Sound pop then pop
And pop pop pop
Very very strange indeed
Then more and more
Pops pop pop pop
Pop pop pop popping
A thunderstorm of popping
Now I know why
It was all the
Heads that have been
Buried in the sand
Popping up and realizing
That a government that
Gives freedoms can also
Remove them nothing
Is ever really guaranteed
Ignorant is equal parts
Ignore and rant ignore
What they don’t understand
And rant about things
They know absolutely nothing
About both of which
Says more about them
Than any of us
I’ve always been different
It runs through my
Veins like water through
A gorge I’ve always
Known that ever since
I was a child
So being gay seemed
Normal part and parcel
But to so many
Others being gay was
So unusual that they
Hid their uniqueness shied
Away from the others
Until June Pride Month
When the rainbow colors
Fly far and wide
For all the world
To see celebrating not
Just being LGBTQ+ but
Also everyone’s vibrant uniqueness
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 