Anniversary

- Stonewall Inn, June 28, 2016

They were not damn riots Stormé screamed

at me she threw my beer from my hand

declared it was a rebellion an uprising it was civil rights

it was a stance and she stood on the table

for Marsha P who threw bricks at cops who came to drag

the homeless out of the oak-wood table booths

arrest Raymond for pushing back at injustice

cops that beat bleeding butches who were tired

of hiding their love in shadows behind the Mafia owned walls

and now gathered on streets yelling gay power

coming out of hiding from bars and clubs and convents

to meet in Christopher Park where white statues sit

And I told her I had been to the park in remembrance

but she yelled I could hold my lover’s hand not worrying

about the threat of nightsticks and gunshots

and to remember the forgotten names who created

this community not out of pride out of anger and

every rainbow flag I wave in every parade

I dance in should remind me of

the ones who threw punches, bricks and protests

so I can kiss my lover in open streets

but I knew that I was there for the anniversary

I knew the names I spoke them myself

she didn’t need to tell me anything

but she owed me for the beer.