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.