Moonlight
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There are little black boys afraid to show their true colors.
by Shajuana Henry
There are little black boys afraid to show their true colors.
Scared that someone will make out the rainbow
and beat them ‘til they’re black-and-blue.
For these boys, it is only safe to come out under the moonlight.
For these boys, it is not just a phase.
They look blue,
and feel blue,
and hate blue.
These boys are always on the run.
Escaping the trauma, but never escaping the closet
When this hurt
hits
from all angles
It becomes impossible to think straight.
Although they never thought straight
They’ve curved like a crescent
Their essence, iridescent
They could never be just one of the boys
Unless they played pretend and blended in
even when their light still bends within.