Rainbows and Stripes

I always loved certain crayons

When coloring in school

I thought the rainbow just looked

So crazy and cool

And using my favorites

To create something new

Was something I always

Tried to do

Until I found out

What a pride flag was

And I was filled to the brim

With disappointment because

I didn’t want people

To think I was bi

Or even that I was gay

I wasn’t sure why

I was so bothered

By what people would think

Until it filled me up

And I began to sink

These simple colors

Are an example of my fears

I didn’t want to be mistaken

By one of my peers

I didn’t want to spread

The wrong idea around

So I stopped before they

Could even make a sound

I never used those colors

At the same time

For fear I would commit

A “terrible social crime”

Sure, I never felt

That the picture was mine

But if people don’t think I’m gay

Then I’ll be fine

Because for some reason

It bothered me so much

It found a deep place in my heart

That I didn’t know it could touch

Fast forward a few years

After seeing more of life

I now laugh

At that internal strife

Because I know what was stirring

Deep down inside

I know what I rejected

And tried to hide

And now I use those colors

At every chance I get

Because they mean something to me

I just didn’t know it yet

So here are my pictures

With magentas, purples, and blues

Filled to the brim

With rainbow hues

Because a part of accepting

That piece of me

Was not caring about

What others could see