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
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
Love knows no age
Nor does it know
Time it doesn’t recognize
Distance nor does it
Ever really make rhyme
It’s never ever easy
And it’s always surprising
Love is like air
After drowning it’s like
Water after running it’s
Like fire after freezing
Love is a blanket
That someone covers you
With while you’re napping
Love is so many
Things that if we
Just stopped to think
For a moment we’d
Realize that yes we’ve
Been in love so
Many many times before
Starting with our mom
Change is coming
I hear it
In the wind
It’s a far
Off voice calling
Come this way
Or if not
I will come
There to you
Change is coming
I see it
On the horizon
First as clouds
Then as mountains
Stretching higher higher
And dropping sheets
And sheets of
Rain blackening landscape
And then disappearing
Change is coming
Change always comes
It always comes
It always comes
My dear boy
Remember this one
Thing that Christmas
Isn’t so much
About getting but
More about wishing
Wishing for things
Wishing for love
And Christmas kisses
Wishing for family
Wishing for snow
But even more
Wishing that this
Feeling on this
Day could be
Felt every day
Merry merry Christmas
My dear boy
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 