KIRA

Kira

Age 13

Childhood

I come from a rainbow family

Test-tube baby

My genes come from a man I'll never know

Home is at the Pride Parade

My dog is walked on a rainbow leash.

I come from a twisted neck

Screaming loud

Taken from my mother's womb

Thrown into life much too early.

I come from a peeling red picnic table

On the porch, slivers in my feet

Smell of bread cooking in the oven

Drum circles

Catapulting into a freezing pool

And love

So much love. 

Lonely Blue

I see it in the papers

On the news

Children crying.

It splits my heart down its seam.

Lonely Blue

Floating on the floodwaters

Being lifted by currents

By a flow of events I can't reverse.

The child who dies to save his brother.

The old man who shields his wife from a bullet.

Heartache and sacrifice.

Hope inside my kaleidoscope heart

A coming-out speech shared with thousands

Crowds pledging to change the world,

Daylight to dusk.

Si se puede.

Yes, we can.

It gets better.

Flying for the feel of the wind.

Inspire.

Bittersweet melancholy

Taking one more step for justice.

Stitching my heart back together

With purple thread.

The kids, we'll be all right.

Product of love.

Messenger of peace.

I throw every last caution to the wind.