I am here for those who will not 'go with the flow'
I am here for those who are not 'chill', who will not
'Wait and see', who cannot 'just hang out'.
I am here for those who stake themselves firm
In a fast-flowing current of judgment and idealism,
Who grab hard to dreams and goals and eke them,
Inch by inch, out of the silt of the future.
I am here for those who will not prevaricate, who will not
Be domesticated, who never got the hang of fitting in.
I am here for the ones who make art that is daring,
Who write words that shock us, who weild music like a tornado.
I am here not those who are not bound by other people's timelines,
Or other people's senses of self or love or pride.
I am here for the ones who guard up their sex
Like the beautiful, precious charm that it is, for safekeeping;
I am here for those whose love is hot, and fierce, and wild,
And demanding of mutuality and admiration.
I am here for the women who mourn in public, whose tears
Make us awkward with accountability.
I am here for those who speak too loud; I am here for those
Who cannot speak at all, whose wills and opinions
Are just as vital as those of us who stand on street corners and yell.
I am here for those who cannot be idle; I am here
For those who find deep strength in stillness, in nature, in reverie.
I am here for the ones who will not accept burdens
That do not belong to them; I am here for those who,
Seeing weight on others, must stop and help shoulder the pain.
I am here for the bright ones, the burning ones,
The scarred and perfect, the serious and laughing.
In all our variations we are each pursuing our own truths,
Standing still in our authenticities, leaning
Into the current, face to the sun.