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
It’s not that it’s
Over that bothers me
It’s the picking up
Of all the pieces
This thing of yours
That thing of mine
And what to do
With the things that
Are ours when ours
Is no longer a
Thing and remains nowhere
Where exactly is nowhere
Oh right I know
I’m smack dab in
The middle of it
One of my favorite
Things as a child
When after my mother
Laid me down to
Nap I’d watch the
Sun darkening through the
Blinds of my window
Knowing that it was
Clouds slowly passing by
But imagining that it
Was angels outside my
Window peeking in on
Me before I sleep
And with each season
Comes it’s own surprises
Awake aware abandon acquiesce
Bud blossom befall bedtime
Curious crave collapse close
Dawn desire descend die
On through the alphabet
No matter the season
Whether it be love
Or life or time
The seasons always march
To an invisible drum
Heard by no one
Yet felt by all
As I have gotten older
I’ve become more aware
Of the little things
Having been bombarded by
The grand things of
Life I have sought
Refuge in the quiet
Things raindrops on eaves
The scratching of fall
Leaves and ant hills
That seem to erupt
Overnight through sidewalk cracks
The slower things like
Inch by delicate inch
Of freshly fallen snow
That crawls against windows
And plump caterpillars that
Wind and weave munching
Polka dots in green
On their way to
Emerging butterfly and oh
Yes love as called
Accepting it rather than
Seeking it there’s comfort
In the little slow
Things that simply show
Up for no other
Reason than being themselves
And I taking notice
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 