The Marbled Sigh

Excerpt From Weekend Poem #8

I put on my finest 

So I could chaperone Pride Ball 

Where in the rainbow draped cafeteria 

The dancing did not stop.

I stood to the side as chaperones do 

not letting the songs move me. 

And when YMCA called everyone to the floor

To gather their joy and their identities 

I was showered with a sense 

That this could be ok.

This could be ok, but

In my head a sea of red hats

Were cheering as their leader 

Stood on the stage, grinning and

fist-pumping to the same song. 

---

Christopher Barry’s poetry has been published in Rising Phoenix Review, Northern New England Review, The Henniker Review, and The Golden Hour. He lives in New Hampshire where he teaches English and runs really long distances.