Poem Selection: Self-Righteous

Self-Righteous

By Jasminum McMullen

1/25/11

Exclusion is eroding the red, white and blue.
I am American, like you.
Yet dehumanized, broken down to a particulate size,
categorized, then magnified.
How can I stand and function in this world of closed minds?
With hearts that beat for my early demise,
walkin' round in bodies
ready to kill the spirit before the rise.

Destructive and evil plans get devised inside the mind of the religious right,
as they slumber and sigh within the crust of their piece of American pie.
The smell of hate alerts me that love died.
The greatest gift the most high could provide,
is being pushed aside and denied.

At times, the perplexities that derive from society astounds me.
My biological sex, sexuality and ancestry has me viewed as a triple threat minority,
Making a way for fear to fuel the hate placed before me,
in and effort to down grade my worth.

A few things I'm certain of while traveling this earth;
I was birthed by my mother, God gave me life,
AND the power of the kingdom gives me strength to survive.

I recollect a younger me,
backpacking through halls being called "dyke,"
and being 15 years old when Matthew Sheppard died.
My mother in fear for me to go out at night,
that someone might feel righteous and take my life.
I was prepared then and still I AM prepared to fight,
naysayers that assemble and protest against my rights,
who turn a blind eye to the atrocities of their own life,
for a chance to redirect mine.

Like a war cry I proudly shout,
"I own the road I'm on!"
As they turn on the t.v. privately in the comfort of their own homes,
and watch gay themed shows,

Thanks for the ratings.

Society loves gay as long as it's entertaining.

-Jas McMullen aka +thewritegift+ (c) 1/25/2011