There was a month dedicated
Out of the year
For pride.
Proud were the men and women
That they wanted to celebrate their pride.
They were proud to be thieves.
They were proud to be murderers.
They were proud to break.
They were proud to falsely accuse and put people in prison.
They were proud to shut up good men, so they could not speak.
Proud they were, and had a whole month to be proud.
They were proud of their mediocre talents.
They were proud of diminishing the skilled man’s work
With works of inferiority.
And they were proud that the inferior work could not be displayed.
They were proud, yes, so proud,
That they had their parades
And walked down the streets, singing their melodies
Celebrating their pride.
They were proud to have wooed lovers
They were proud to have their sin exposed to the world
So the world could praise them.
They were proud to be bitter, and angry
And they were proud to speak to the humble man’s hurt.
They were even proud that they owned animals.
They were proud that they had money to feed their children.
They were proud to have husbands and wives.
They were proud that they could divorce
And destroy.
They were proud, their children groaning and confused.
Their aggressive animal licking the face of the good man in their cabins.
They were proud…
Proud.
And for a whole month
Everyone celebrated pride.
B. K. Neifert 