Purple My Friend

Purple

Favorite color of my youth

My love until a wretched truth I was exposed

By a small child like me I can't recall

"Purple!" exclaimed with confidence as the child spoke

The first time I felt ridicule

I laughed at the supposed joke

Only to be told a jagged truth

“'Purple' is the color of Gay,” the boy said

I searched inside my fragile redheaded head

I did not know this word, "Gay" so I asked

What said the little boy about being "Gay" with rage contrast

"Blue, is the color I meant to say," shyly

A tepid chuckle to calm the thick, ardent, dread

I was sad that day, I lost my friend

The color Purple I betrayed

Whenever asked from that time on

My favorite color, "blue," blue my lonely song

Every time betraying my soul

Every time a pang for my friend, un-consoled

Until I was old enough to know with rebellious pride

That I can stand fists unfurled, scared, alone, dark, friends beside

"Purple!" I screamed when asked and dared a glancing stare

Purple is my friend, turned back to me with respite

Purple never left me, always there

A hug from a flower, a sunset, a high jar on a grocery shelf

Purple was always with me, arms open, grin

Purple dear Purple, my love, my kin again