We sunny California, of fair skies and few spiders
Call ourselves ‘liberal’ = (favorable to progress or reform)
The spinal cord of law shuts its iron ribcage, barring entrance
-Entrance to the hospital doors. You are not welcome here
Cannot visit the one you love in these final moments
Because your love is wrong
And it disturbs me
Election Day, new leader, dawning of new day
So far the appointment strayed from my mind of blinding cinders
Overnight ignorance and politics swayed a slow dance together
Denying rainbow its colorship. Why the hell not?
Peeling off an outer layer of skin,
For that’s the one that touched this acidic hatred
Keep away from me, adults with a ballot
Because why wouldn’t you put your comfort over others happiness?
Life guarantees nothing but eventual death
Hence the reasoning that we need to link arms
I will celebrate Ghandi, and you will celebrate MLK, and he will wear his rainbow bracelet
If I told you we all wanted peace and perhaps a little equality, could you combat it?
Of course you could, combating is the only other option for dissent.
My friend of fifteen feared telling her family that she had found love
All because Sam was a girl
No more sleepovers now
No more talking to her father
Only a promise, to leave what could never be a home behind.
We passed a proposition to enable chickens to better living conditions
Does that not strike anyone as odd?
Perhaps not to avian sympathetics.
Never did anyone propose the removal of marriage from the poultry society
To my knowledge bigamy is hardly discouraged among chickens
Just trivial wonderings, yet may I point out that …..
We are treating our chickens better than our gays
Some argue that their religion is opposed to the marriage of homosexuals
I tried to lean against the plexiglass dividing church and state
Falling flat on my face, like first day of mime school.
I apologized to the mime teacher for allowing childlike idealism paint my reality instead of skilled farce
Needless to say I was expelled for verbose explanations.
The ‘word’ marriage is not so easily replaced as some would hope
Its not the word being fought for, but the right
It’s the right of love to be recognized by the country
Recognized by our fellow humans
Author notes
heavily sardonic tone, just incase i seem contradictory...
A contest entry
- Raised Fists by poetryality.
2568 points, ended March 1, 2009, 14 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
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In your first line you might need to say;
"Californians"
Your STAND is courageous and sure to ignite fires, as it should. All people, no matter their race, gender, ethnicity, sexual preference...should have equal rights under the laws that govern this country. I am heterosexual, yet it frightens me to think that there is section of people in this country that have lesser rights than others.
You have boldly stated your thoughts here poet and I commend you on a job exceedingly well done. I love the play on the title.
I understand both sides of this ever-present issue, and hope that someday we can live with Love and without judgment! Thank you for this entry and I wish you the best in this contest and your life's journey.
Much Love & Respect ♥
Renee
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Hi, this is a really thoughtful and thought-provoking poem. I understand all the points you made... and yes, I agree with you that it seems as if homosexuality is still wrong even in this so-called modern times we're living in now. Hmm. Perhaps the majority are still uncomfortable with this supposed "immorality"? But is the views of the majority always the right one? Why are we still oppressing and refusing the rights of homosexuals...
I especially loved this stanza-
"Some argue that their religion is opposed to the marriage of homosexuals
I tried to lean against the plexiglass dividing church and state
Falling flat on my face, like first day of mime school.
I apologized to the mime teacher for allowing childlike idealism paint my reality instead of skilled farce
Needless to say I was expelled for verbose explanations."
-the imagery is beautiful and adds on to the overall vibe of the piece.
Good work and good luck.
All the best,
Char
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