My pride Isn’t her pride We’re separate, Divided Her pride Is obvious My pride, secretive What is pride? Joy? Revelation? Ego? My longing Isn’t her longing Well, maybe… I guess I don’t know Her fear Might be my fear Her tragedy Shared Our pride Might be If we could talk If she could see

**A flame within, burning bright,** **Illuminating inner might.** **Standing tall, head held high,** **No need to shrink or justify.** **** **Self-worth woven through each day,** **A tapestry of who we are and what we say.** **Embracing flaws and strengths alike,** **A balance struck, no need to strike.** **** **Yet beware the line so thin,** **Between confidence and hubris grim.** **True pride lifts others as we rise,** **False pride blinds with its disguise.** **** **In the end, it's not a race,** **But finding our authentic place.** **Pride: a quiet, steady glow,** **Lighting the path as we grow** ****

I peel off my clothes from my hot, clammy skin. These rising heats really do get on my nerves. I step into the shower and wash away all my worries. Like a cleansing of the mind. Then my brain switches paths. And I end up thinking of her. Again. The way her silky red hair moves in the shadows. The way her eyes glint in the sun. The way she walks. The way she smiles. The way she laughs. The way her lips feel. I dry myself off and get dressed for the day. I choose my wide leg jeans and a cream cropped shirt. The school day passes by slowly. It always does. But then I see her in the corridor, she gives me a sideways glance and discreetly winks. My heart flutters. As I walk past her locker, I subtly slip a piece of paper into the slits. _Meet me under the bleachers, lunch x _it reads. Another few lessons pass as lunch grows closer and closer. After class I take a detour, completely bypassing lunch and walking to the bleachers outside of the building. She’s already there waiting for me. Standing there in pure perfection and beauty. Oh how much I love her. I drop my bag to the floor and hug her. “I’ve missed you babe” I whisper “Me too, such a long day without your company” she agrees. I move my hands down to her perfectly shaped waist as she snakes her arms around my neck. I gently kiss her neck in affection. She smiles. She tucks a strand of my brown hair behind my ear. “Looking beautiful today” she mumbles “I could same the same for you” I reply. She presses her lips to mine softly. I kiss her back harder. After a while we sit down and she lays in between my legs facing upwards. I run my fingers through her hair. “Oh how gorgeous you’re looking right now” I whisper and she blushes. She pulls a Polaroid camera out of her bag and hands it to me, a take a picture of both of us. She machine pushes out a blank image. She starts shaking it. I take it from her hand and stare at the image, mesmerised. “I wish I could stay here forever” she mutters “I mean we could always skip last period?” I suggest with a wink and a cheeky grin “Any day day with you, my love”

Pride is a funny thing It is why the student studies all day To fully understand and not to need help But then shoves it off and asks anyway It is the reason that the employee Swallows their pride and Asks their boss for clarification

It’s not a phase. It’s not a lie. It is me. I am bi. No, don’t speak. Hold your tongue. I need not your approval or songs to be sung. I simply need you to know, and be annoyed if you must. I am bi, and you’ll need to adjust. Just a small part of your brain, no big deal. Try it, and see how you feel. You need take no action, nor cry of my sorrow. You just need to be there still tomorrow. I am still me, that has not been altered. I hope your thoughts of me have not faulted. You accept me, I accept you. There is nothing more to say, nor do. 💗💜💙 🦩☂️🦋

Lil lesbian girl In a homophobic world How dare you love her Society knows no different Judged so much your becoming incoherent to the bullshit Lil lesbian girl How the small frame from a female makes your toes curl Or a feminine smile keeps the conversation going for longer than a hour Muni said it best I can do this for hrs and hrs See it’s A touch like no other the intense emotion between each other nothing of the such of a boy and girl Lil lesbian girl What in the world…they will say Who did you look up to back In the day Questions ask how did you get this way Now you can date without hate Without knowing people that was just like you all over the place Exile to be silent Until the day June 26 the day they hate When it no longer mattered who you walked the aisle with or who was your mate Resistance still in the air government acting like there unaware Clears throat are you there ..? I said the government from high and low Walk around dumbfounded To the hatred spreading on a day to day They would say no comment or they don’t know For a fem or just regular gay so they say your safe where ever you go But a stud or to be flamboyant your targeted With hate walking each day not knowing your fate let’s take a minute to say there names just in case your not awake Gwen Araujo John D’mato Cece McDonald Roxanne Ellis and Michelle just a few of the victims where there murderers couldn’t have came no other place but from hell and the heart of there Perpetrators filled with hate But it’s never to late to love so Dear Lil lesbian girl Don’t be scared to be yourself don’t be afraid to not be accepted by everyone else Love unapologetically that’s the key you see Because when your confident and assured It’s no limit in your sexuality or who you can be and the man above will always have love Lil lesbian girl I hope this poem will help you long after I’m gone watching you from far above ❤️

( the opposite of the prompt but) Hearing poems, what you claim I see sanity’s lost in shame Adds to the lost after a while You seem to drown in the pile Yet your much better than me You suppress what I can’t unsee Yet if I’m exposed I’m saved Running from hell as it caved Yet you seem much more happy Not weak, damaged, sappy You self medicate, seems to help But the bitter knife makes me yelp Yet I’m drawn to your fate Don’t want to miss or be late To saving myself or taking time From my heart, flip the lucky dime Heads or tails - instinct or brain Life or death where will I be lain Broken brain, planted seed Growing tree an urge I feed Will I fall into dark and relapse Or be saved and protected perhaps But I know I won’t this isn’t a story I did this myself and for that I am sorry

I did it. I hit a goal I set out to do. It felt glorious. 100 days in a row on this app. Proof of my dedication, proof of my consistency, my driving force. I exalt— joyful, proud I did it. The only question is what do I do now? Do I keep going, forever without pause? Is it can I write for a year? A whole 365? Or do I take up a new challenge? A new feat to climb? I’m not sure, but for today, I am proud. And that is enough!

I did not set out to be a single mom But I am not ashamed to be one. Pride guides me. When I look up on tired days and see her. Happy, thriving, swimming in the joy Of two parents that love her Unconditionally And forever.

I love myself Well, I love the gay part Of myself. I felt I should clarify. I love the rainbow flag That hangs in my heart. I love the Maybe Non-binary flag That’s hangs in the closet. I accept who I am. There was a time Where I didn’t. But I do now. Fully. I love being gay. In case you didn’t know, That’s the same thing, As loving being happy.