Chasing Rainbows

In my small southern town

Football is king

The only dream is making it

To the N.F.L

Friday-Night- Lights turn into bittersweet memories

And would’ve should’ve could’ve scenarios

Maroon and gold were the colors they chose

When black and white bodies were told

By white men, in black robes,

far far away

that they must integrate

Me, born in 1988,

innocent and ignorant

Of what was expected of me

Naively believed that

I could be

Me

and free

Amongst the blacks,the whites, the maroons And the golds

They told ME that blue is for boys

But what if I liked pink?

Or smelling yellow sunflowers during the summer

Eden still exist—-in my memories

Yellow and red cherry plums

Blackberries galore

Kissing at Red Robin’s for good luck

Orange popsicles to defeat the summer heat

Pickup trucks neatly filled with Beautiful red water melon/

Waiting to be sold

These are the colors that made me

And make me, smile

So much so that When I go to the grocery store

I look for them

And ask for them

Hoping they will free and heal

me

Only to wound up on aisles

Filled with delicious temporary, high fructose fixes

Afflictions

But I refuse to lose

My colors!

Like many of my childhood friends have

Who were told to chase green dollar dollar bills

Instead of happiness

They say things like money over women

And get rich or die trying

While I’m trying to find me

And be free

And be unique

Chasing rainbows