Get Your Premium Membership

Trying to Stay Inside the Lines

If you brush away all the fallen leaves, from the branches of my family tree. You're likely to find a few old bones that, we've tried to keep hidden from history. As with all families you're gonna find, things that no one ever dared to bring out. Gays, lesbians, bi and transgender were, the kind of things that no one talked about. Back in those days they whispered horrid words, all about subjects that were quite taboo. Now accepted as just a way of life, that many people now openly choose. I say that all the 'eccentricities', that filled up our ancestral lineage. Have helped color in all of the blank spots, though some paint may have spread over the edge. It is so hard to stay inside the lines, when it’s colored in by so many hands. Our quirks and words and peculiar traits, are perhaps what helps us to understand. That it's from those colors that gently bled, and all those secrets that were never told. That created who we became today, and we don't have to all fit the same mold.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2024




Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 3/3/2024 8:12:00 PM
Words of wisdom from the rear-view mirror there, my friend. ~ Everybody's a little nuts, eh?
Login to Reply
Brotherton Avatar
Jerry Brotherton
Date: 3/4/2024 5:59:00 PM
Thanks, Gershon
Date: 3/2/2024 5:34:00 AM
Hey Jerry.. I like how the poem emphasizes the importance of embracing one's identity and celebrating the diverse experiences that make each family and individual unique. It speaks to the power of acceptance, understanding, and self-discovery in shaping who we are and the paths we choose to follow.
Login to Reply
Brotherton Avatar
Jerry Brotherton
Date: 3/4/2024 5:59:00 PM
I appreciate the wonderful words, Silent One
Date: 3/2/2024 5:18:00 AM
authentic, wise, and insightful words, dear Jerry. We are all a conglomeration, a blend of family, culture, experiences, etc. How we got here is almost a miracle. Your words underscore the ever-changing mindset of culture and its impact on us individually and collectively. Am faving this powerful poem. have a great day, Sara
Login to Reply
Brotherton Avatar
Jerry Brotherton
Date: 3/4/2024 6:00:00 PM
Sara, i appreciate the fav, my freind.
Date: 3/1/2024 6:57:00 PM
There is such a simple honesty in your writing that belies your complex poetry. I guess like the fallen leaves of your words, the bones of your poem scream true.
Login to Reply
Brotherton Avatar
Jerry Brotherton
Date: 3/4/2024 6:00:00 PM
Thanks, Triny
Date: 3/1/2024 6:45:00 PM
I love and agree with this poem. The differences in people make life more interesting.
Login to Reply
Brotherton Avatar
Jerry Brotherton
Date: 3/4/2024 6:01:00 PM
Thanks Hilda
Date: 3/1/2024 6:14:00 PM
Enjoyed the title, clever indeed, and the message of your poem.
Login to Reply
Brotherton Avatar
Jerry Brotherton
Date: 3/4/2024 6:01:00 PM
Thank you David.
Date: 3/1/2024 5:44:00 PM
Great message in this one, Jerry. It's not so much about how we got to where we are; as it is about how will we change, where will we go, and how far. Thanks for sharing some good down to earth common sense, my friend. Bill
Login to Reply
Brotherton Avatar
Jerry Brotherton
Date: 3/4/2024 6:01:00 PM
Thank you Bill.

Book: Reflection on the Important Things