Together
.
w
e
.
walked
away
.
i
n
.
a
dazed,
–
–
shell-shocked
haze . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ the
once,
–
–
angry
guns
.
o
f
.
blistering
.
r
a
g
e
.
pounding
.
o
u
r
.
resounding
love
.
o
f
.
nonconforming
disgrace . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
day,
.
a
f
t
e
r
.
night,
.
a
f
t
e
r
.
day . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
a
n
d
–
–
–
then
.
f
a
l
l
i
n
g
.
silent
beyond
.
t
h
e
.
rubble
.
w
h
i
c
h
.
remained . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ the
rubble
.
o
f
.
all
.
t
h
e
.
presentable,
–
–
acceptable,
–
–
respectable
–
–
ways . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
w
e
–
–
–
once
learned
.
t
o
.
embrace
–
–
within
.
t
h
e
.
days . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
within
.
t
h
e
.
days
.
o
f
.
yesterday . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
We
were
–
–
there
with
.
t
h
e
.
haunting
haze
.
i
n
.
the
air . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
when
attempting
.
o
u
r
.
escape,
–
–
beyond
.
t
h
e
.
gates
.
o
f
.
bitter
judgment
.
a
n
d
.
hate . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
a
n
d
–
–
–
suddenly
.
w
e
.
broke
away . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
a
n
d
–
–
–
suddenly
.
w
e
.
broke
away . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
a
n
d
–
–
–
suddenly
.
w
e
.
broke
away . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
Freedom
came
.
o
u
r
.
way
.
t
h
a
t
.
day,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
we
.
w
i
l
l
.
never
return
.
t
o
.
that
place . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
s
o
–
–
–
take
.
m
y
.
hand,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
let’s
pick-up
.
t
h
e
.
pace . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
f
o
r
–
–
–
the
exhilarating
wave
.
o
f
.
our
.
n
e
w
.
future
waits,
–
–
where
.
w
e
.
can
live,
.
a
n
d
.
love,
.
a
n
d
.
gaze,
–
–
without
shame . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ where
.
w
e
.
can
live,
.
a
n
d
.
love,
.
a
n
d
.
gaze,
–
–
without
shame . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
f
o
r
–
–
–
all
.
o
f
.
our
days,
–
–
which
.
s
t
i
l
l
.
remain.
Reflection: This was a romantic-themed poem that I wrote back in September of 2016 where the romantic parties bravely and unashamedly claim and passionately pursue their nonconforming love – even against the overwhelming forces of family and societal resistance. This was the second of three poems I wrote that were largely inspired by the movie: “Holding the Man.” This poem was primarily inspired by a specific scene in the movie: John leaves his home with Tim much to his father’s dismay. I actually hated the title of this movie, but thought it was an excellent movie overall.