How grim. How foolish. How fallow
The castle built for sameness.
Now a plain, dull, drab
Myopic of potential greatness
Strict rules of what to do and be,
Keep tongues under lock and key
Loose lips, loose hips, loose chains
And hate will fill the sticky heat
Shield the children’s eyes
From all but the Sword and gun
Apply the torniquet swiftly, child!
The battle rages on
Don’t be different
Guard all that you say
Don’t let them know you’re Happy
They’ll take you away
No, you can’t wear that
To school, to church, to play
I’m sorry but I have to lie
You’ll understand someday
Parades get canceled that used to be riots.
We’ve been here before
Contraband dark history
The books on fire once more
A haven of assimilation
Ignorance and isolation
Just holding hands in love
“Indecency!” and “Perversion!”
You’re right. We are rising. You’re right.
We will destroy the nuclear, atomic core.
Because it’s killing us, it’s radiation.
It’s death we’ve survived before.
We will say our names
We’ll protect our young
Remember the blood on your hands
With every rainbow banner hung
The citadel will crumble.
We who topple giants
Will march around the gates
In drag, in dance, in defiance
Blow our horns in protest
Until prison walls a-tumbling fall
Music echoes off the stones
Liberation comes for all
Shoot arrows from your fortress
Bare your swords of fear
Clanging on collective shields
Of the Weird and Proud and Queer.
You will see our colors
Black and Brown; pink, white, and blue
All of the promised spectra
Breaking bricks with every hue
Though courts, laws, and politicians
Fail us every day
Your citadel of normalcy
Is destined for decay.