there’s blood
and
bruises,
and
scars
etched onto his face with blades.
the blood looks like red globs of paint
so I keep hoping that this is just a Halloween costume.

his eyes used to shine with
hopes,
dreams
but those were ripped right out of him
the day that they attacked him.
it hurts for him to walk because part of his leg was torn off.
his confidence is gone
from the oh too long against a fence, a rope around his neck.
his teeth are knocked out from fists

their fists

and now I’m sick
there are too many people who are treated like s***

we pass law after law and expect things to change
but they will never be enough to mend the wounds from forgetting how to love
and forgetting that all this is,
is love.
so we have to stand up
checking a yes or no box on a ballot will never be enough.

he’s throbbing and popping four pills a day to feel something other than the pain
and all this because he dared say
“I’m gay”