Roses in the Closet

"One day, the world will understand --”

 

We hold our breath

and purse our lips

and wait

sadly, our ‘one day’ never will arrive.

When the bloodstains

are washed off

the battleground,

the seeds will have forgotten to survive.

 

If only

we’d had nothing

to reveal, no

confessions to make.

Nowhere

to ‘come out’ of,

no fragile decrees,

nor hearts, to break.

 

oh! That

we’d been

as you are –

but why do voices say we are not?

Do not we thrive

on the same air

and the same bread

as you do? Why then, are you and we apart?

Why are we told

what to wear

whom to love

how to live, devoid of a voice?

Who gave you

the right to lay down

these laws, and stripped

us of ours to exercise our choice?

 

Was it not

Love, that caused

battles to be fought,

and yet is worshipped and praised?

Love for Man,

for land, Love –

why, when we yearn for Love

are stones pelted and accusations raised?

 

Why should we

'come out'

confess

to having lived, as though it were sin?

Just as they would yours,

closets stifle our breath too.

but having nowhere

to go, is what keeps us in.

Why do we need

to be 'strong'

to fight

for respect, life, shelter and bread?

Why choose

between acceptance of your norms

and pleas to 'be accepted'?

acceptance - if given, alms; if taken, debt.

We have no sins

to confess,

we live not

in prisons of prejudice and hate.

One day, you will 'come out'

of your prisons

and until then... we shall

wait.

🏳️‍🌈

The Tranquill Poet 🤍