A Poem To Make You Proud

Colored On The Inside by Grace Ellice May

I am blue like my sadness,

and yellow like my joy.

I am red like my passion,

the best part of me that I enjoy.

I am green like my hope,

and black like my uncertainty.

I am white like my ignorance,

so I try not to speak carelessly.

I am purple like my pride,

and pink like my softness.

I am orange like my warmth,

disguised with a strange coldness.

My false colors lay boldly on the outside,

and my soul bears the hues I often hide.

I am too human for this inhumane world,

too vulnerable and too everything weird.

But I am learning to be okay with being me,

by loving the parts of me others do not see.

I wish to live freely as myself without fear,

and dwell in the world without much care.

So if you are worried

about who will like you, my dear.

Come out, let me see you

and in my arms, you will always be safe here.

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This is a piece I wrote a long time ago. I really enjoyed writing this poem and I thought it was relevant in celebrating Pride month, but also, most of all, as an anthem that celebrates our beautifully complex humanity and all the uniqueness that is bestowed in all of us. We have come a long way in learning to accept and understand each other. However, there is still a lot of work to be done. We must work harder to celebrate our differences even more. Remember, there is no shame in being who you really are. There is no shame in loving whoever you choose to love. In this little online space that I occupy, everyone is welcome. You are all safe here. From now on and always, let us dare to be who we really are. I love you, to infinity and beyond (Lightyear reference, go see the movie! Chris Evans is amazing!).

Thank you for making it this far. Thank you for being here. See you next time, friend. Happy Pride Month!

Warmly, Grace.