Aunt Laura

Aunt Laura(Dec 2011)

What can I say
Except, “I love you”
Your glow
Has brightened my life
In every way
I have looked up to you
For as long as I remember
Even though I am taller now
I still do

You inspire me
To learn
To fight
To be the best version of: ME
You taught me the importance of family
I only wish I had been a better student
Learned the lesson faster
And spent more time with you

You have always accepted me
Loved me unconditionally
And never labeled me
That means the world to me
I never needed to censor myself
I have always felt comfortable
Telling you everything
Without fear of judgment

Thank you
For sharing your life with me
It will not be the same
Without you in it
But I want you to know
You will live forever
In my heart
Don’t be afraid

Black or White

You watch TV in color
Black & white is outdated
Why even bother?
But then you ask me
If I am gay or straight
What a black and white question
For such a colorful world
Sometimes I forget

You dream in Black and White
I dream in color
I can’t be defined by a check mark
Labeled for your convenience
I am everything
I am nothing
I am just me

This is 2012
We’ve got 3D movies
A black family in the White House
337 languages spoken in the US
Even the English language changes
As you travel across the country
A virtual rainbow of words
Yet even in this dynamic era

You dream in Black and White
I dream in color
I can’t be defined by a check mark
Labeled for your convenience
I am everything
I am nothing
I am just me

When you start to consider
Shades of gray
You think butch versus femme
Drag queen versus bear
But what about me
Playing with power tools in my tiara
Gray still doesn’t cover me
In your world I am unlabelable

You dream in Black and White
I dream in color
I can’t be defined by a check mark
Labeled for your convenience
I am everything
I am nothing
I am just me