24 Poems ~ 24 Hours
Haras Shirley is a twenty-six year old trans man from the Midwest. He currently works as a school resource officer. When he isn’t hard at work, he is an avid reader and writer. Haras also enjoys staying active and training with his German Shepherd, Tonks, or cuddling with his cats, Sev and Dobby. Haras graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelors degree in English Education. He has taken Andrea Gibson’s poetry course, Write Your Heart In, and two sessions of Megan Falley’s course, Poems that Don’t Suck, for community and enrichment.
Fruit Stripes
Impulse buys at the register
in 1999 I chose gum for the
first time.
Fruit stripes—
a zebra on the pack
and temporary tattoos
all under $1.
5 cents went to World Wildlife Fund
$100,000 donated
Wish more companies
cared about causes that matter.
Roller Derby
Spectating I watch
sisterhood slam
as a star races
skates screeching
with a toe stop pivot
to score.
The jammer
fast to avoid.
Striped helmet,
prepared to
break away.
Flash of colors
we pass players
point by point
the fans cheer.
Strength and power,
whip it for the win.
Signal Humanity
The colors of the rainbow bleed from my back pocket,
signal humanity.
I am the calm hope
to someone else’s storm.
I am the safety pin
on your denim jacket
holding the hand
of a child that
felt unloved before
a pride parade.
I am a free hug
on our friend’s porch when you
had nothing left
to lose
and nowhere to go.
The rainbow in my back
pocket will be
the noose I wrap around
my neck until everyone
else is safe and free.
Roe v Wade
1973 / 49 years ago / protect /women / give liberty / choice / abortion / 14th amendment / right to privacy / balancing game / separation / of church / and state / separation / of human / fetus / 2022 / overturned / autonomy lost / no constitutional right / abortion / determined by states / the loss of life will be far greater / we do not value people with uteruses /
Bleach
Clean / wrapped in your embrace / freckled hands / chemical / red from intensive labor / pristine linen sheets / sanitized dishes / the five second rule / does not apply / to tile floor / in our house / white cottons / doused / holds memory / stains on colors / gently remind / my love / for you / mom/
Secret Love
Bottled feelings and
side swept glances
silence the middle
of our conversation.
You hide the love
you share,
unspoken aloud.
When will you try
to ask if it’s
reciprocated?
Life is short
or endless.
The result ultimately leaves you breathless.
So why wait?
-thisisyoursign,tellthem
Second-hand Addiction
The first joint… It got you.
The bottle… It got you.
The pills… It got you.
Heroin and meth HOOKED.
Watched you stumble,
roll through
everyone else’s rock bottom
except your own.
Repetitive cycle. Hooked.
You don’t have a
problem though—
no care for the ones
that you love.
Communication is Bare Minimum
I’m on the edge
of your lips
holding on
to the safety in your voice.
-raiseyourexpectations
Time and Forgetting
Felt the sting / drag / last cigarette / back / throat / drowning / the alcohol on their breath / clinging reality / smash my fist / colors / reminder / blushed cheeks / dull ache / night alone / curled up / without you / empty bed / no more memories / cloud my head /
Broken Windows Policing
Chairs are filled
at a table of under qualified
applicants,
Poor training—
and we wonder why there’s no change?
Flawed from the start,
the old system
is still upheld today.
How many more witnesses
are needed
for us to do better?
To find a solution—
I joined the problem,
adopt policy changes,
ensure I practice and cross examine myself.
One day I’ll only hire people with no desire for broken windows.