Away from the people and miles from the crowd,
Far from the voices that are shouting so loud.
Come sit for a minute, share this moment with me,
Hatred is blind, but with patience, we’ll see.
Embrace the unknown and what you knew to be true,
Let the walls fall away; we can build something new.
I know it’s not easy to strip to the bone,
But like you, I’m a soul who just wants to be known.
I know most are painted with colours pre-made,
But somehow, my spirit took on a new shade.
Perhaps there’s a story that hasn’t been told,
That love has no pattern, no blueprint or mould.
No paper doll cutouts stuck on with glue,
Not pretty girl pink or baby boy blue.
Please take time to listen, don’t turn out the light,
For truth never came in the blackness of night.
Banish the labels, assumptions and blame,
We’re not so different, but more of the same.
Knowing that love is too deep to describe,
It heeds to no country, no village or tribe.
Let’s instead hold a light and step out of the dark,
For love is a fire that ignites with a spark.
And from that pure glow that becomes our true north,
A rainbow comes out, and true colours come forth.
Red is our passion that burns bright and strong,
Orange is spirit, like words in our song.
Yellow is hope, far from struggle or strife,
Green is for growth and the promise of life.
Blue holds our feelings that run strong and deep,
Purple shows honour and promises we keep.
Let’s find common ground made for all shapes and types,
A flag made for all, no matter our stripes.
A respect for our choices, we won’t cross the line,
Your love’s not for changing, but neither is mine.
Let’s abandon our hatred and mistakes of the past,
This flag is for flying, not to be hung at half-mast.
Our expression of love may be miles apart,
But my love, just like yours, has the shape of a heart.
So let’s share this Pride, may our real selves shine through,
Show me your colours, and I’ll be proud of you too.
Society + Culture
The Spectrum of Love: A Poem for Pride
If we listen to each other under the glow of love, that light will explode into a rainbow of colours.
28 June 2024 / Published in Prism &Pen on Medium
Photo credits / Photo by Harry Quan on Unsplash
Away from the people and miles from the crowd,
Far from the voices that are shouting so loud.
Come sit for a minute, share this moment with me,
Hatred is blind, but with patience, we’ll see.
Embrace the unknown and what you knew to be true,
Let the walls fall away; we can build something new.
I know it’s not easy to strip to the bone,
But like you, I’m a soul who just wants to be known.
I know most are painted with colours pre-made,
But somehow, my spirit took on a new shade.
Perhaps there’s a story that hasn’t been told,
That love has no pattern, no blueprint or mould.
No paper doll cutouts stuck on with glue,
Not pretty girl pink or baby boy blue.
Please take time to listen, don’t turn out the light,
For truth never came in the blackness of night.
Banish the labels, assumptions and blame,
We’re not so different, but more of the same.
Knowing that love is too deep to describe,
It heeds to no country, no village or tribe.
Let’s instead hold a light and step out of the dark,
For love is a fire that ignites with a spark.
And from that pure glow that becomes our true north,
A rainbow comes out, and true colours come forth.
Red is our passion that burns bright and strong,
Orange is spirit, like words in our song.
Yellow is hope, far from struggle or strife,
Green is for growth and the promise of life.
Blue holds our feelings that run strong and deep,
Purple shows honour and promises we keep.
Let’s find common ground made for all shapes and types,
A flag made for all, no matter our stripes.
A respect for our choices, we won’t cross the line,
Your love’s not for changing, but neither is mine.
Let’s abandon our hatred and mistakes of the past,
This flag is for flying, not to be hung at half-mast.
Our expression of love may be miles apart,
But my love, just like yours, has the shape of a heart.
So let’s share this Pride, may our real selves shine through,
Show me your colours, and I’ll be proud of you too.