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stonepicnicking_okapiTwo poems of my own to wrap up June.
Jesus on the wall [free verse]
Jesus on the wall
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
Jesus on the wall
on the wall, crosses to bear
crosses nailed secure
on display
across the living room wall
for anyone to see, in everyone’s face
crosses
proudly on parade
but, mom, how will other people know that you are Christian?
…and they’ll know we are Christian by our love, by our love…
…oh, yeah, we’ll know…
…we are…
Here!
…we are…
Queer!
…by our love…
Not going anywhere!
…by our love…
proudly
on
parade
End Notes: Inspired by the tumblr exchange described in this article. In short, a few years ago two young Texans bonded via tumblr over their mothers' Jesus walls and became friends and attended a Houston Pride event together this year. A Jesus wall (a wall in a home decorated with nothing but crosses and/or crucifixes) was a common sight for me growing up in South Carolina. My cousin still has one. The middle line of the poem is the caption of the tumblr and the last stanza references a song that was sung a lot in church growing up, "They'll Know We are Christians."
Surprised by Pride [two tanka]
late June. pant, sigh, sweat.
ordinary Saturday.
up, down, hill, bend, turn.
boom-boom! tents, flags, signs rising!
sno cones! balloons! jugglers! boom!
feet stay the pace, path
but deep in a pounding heart
a hope-seed is sown:
that one day, once more, a queer
just might be surprised by pride.
End Notes: Yesterday, I stumbled upon preparations for a Pride event while I was huffing and puffing 'round the little lake at the park, and I was struck with a tiny bit of hope. I'm not proud of any part of myself, but I understand how important pride is and I am happy that others are able to come together and celebrate. And one day, maybe, me, too.
Jesus on the wall [free verse]
Jesus on the wall
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
Jesus on the wall
on the wall, crosses to bear
crosses nailed secure
on display
across the living room wall
for anyone to see, in everyone’s face
crosses
proudly on parade
but, mom, how will other people know that you are Christian?
…and they’ll know we are Christian by our love, by our love…
…oh, yeah, we’ll know…
…we are…
Here!
…we are…
Queer!
…by our love…
Not going anywhere!
…by our love…
proudly
on
parade
End Notes: Inspired by the tumblr exchange described in this article. In short, a few years ago two young Texans bonded via tumblr over their mothers' Jesus walls and became friends and attended a Houston Pride event together this year. A Jesus wall (a wall in a home decorated with nothing but crosses and/or crucifixes) was a common sight for me growing up in South Carolina. My cousin still has one. The middle line of the poem is the caption of the tumblr and the last stanza references a song that was sung a lot in church growing up, "They'll Know We are Christians."
Surprised by Pride [two tanka]
late June. pant, sigh, sweat.
ordinary Saturday.
up, down, hill, bend, turn.
boom-boom! tents, flags, signs rising!
sno cones! balloons! jugglers! boom!
feet stay the pace, path
but deep in a pounding heart
a hope-seed is sown:
that one day, once more, a queer
just might be surprised by pride.
End Notes: Yesterday, I stumbled upon preparations for a Pride event while I was huffing and puffing 'round the little lake at the park, and I was struck with a tiny bit of hope. I'm not proud of any part of myself, but I understand how important pride is and I am happy that others are able to come together and celebrate. And one day, maybe, me, too.