Home

happy sunburn

by Maria Francesca

I don't get sunburned -
the great gift of extra melanin
protects me from peeling
so I can proclaim every summer:

"Ha! -
Just for today
I bet you wish you were black
(okay, brown)
like me!"

but today I am sunburned
from standing
by the side of University Avenue for two hours
and watching
and marveling
and cheering --
really cheering --

as hundreds of people
walked
marched
danced
strutted
by

to celebrate themselves
and us -
the people who cheered for them
and accepted them
and loved them
and loved ourselves just a little more
than we had before.

So now
my throat hurts from hooting
and my nose is peeling
and my cheeks are glowing red

and I am so happy.

07/18/2011

Author's Note: I attended San Diego's Gay Pride Parade this weekend. It was my first time and although I'm not gay, I felt such an aura of love and joy and acceptance. If I can, I'll attend every year.

Posted on 07/19/2011
Copyright © 2024 Maria Francesca

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by George Hoerner on 07/19/11 at 11:45 PM

Thanks for attending! I believe we should treat humans like humans with dignity and respect until they show us otherwise.

Posted by Mo Couts on 07/20/11 at 12:45 AM

Oh yay!! What a happy, happy poem. So charming and lovely. Thank you for your acceptance and understanding; it means more than I can say!

Return to the Previous Page
 

pathetic.org Version 7.3.2 May 2004 Terms and Conditions of Use 0 member(s) and 2 visitor(s) online
All works Copyright © 2024 their respective authors. Page Generated In 0 Second(s)