Tonight's Poet Corner: Day 30

Day 30
by Belinda Roddie

It is not the end of the rainbow - light
can travel farther than that. Look, we've dipped
our fingers into all the paints. We've mixed
our souls together. We'll create something
truly vibrant and extraordinary.

I pour you iced tea on a lukewarm summer day.
The hairs on the back of your hand prickle
as if you've been called by an invisible mother -
a judgmental one, shrouded in nothing but grays.
I remind you: Take a sip. Settle down.
You are safe. You are loved. Right here.

Tomorrow is July. I'll go the Farmer's Market
with you, buy you a milkshake, kiss you
by the pier. If the wind's strong enough,
we can pretend we're encircled by stars.
Somewhere, someone has discovered
that their pulse delivers neon blood.

We won't put away the flag. And we won't
stop holding hands at the crosswalk.
The ghosts of past rioters beam down on us,
so we ought to smile back. And pump our
fists. And dance to anthems. And not retreat
just because June has come and gone.