Poem: Death is final, Pride is forever

By Tilde Haar (She/Her)

Hey Mom,

I didn’t just get your

teeth

hands

sense of justice

I only regret

not getting to talk about

another thing we share

We mistook you for an ally

But really you were

not

only

that

You must have known we would

find this proof of what we

always

almost

knew

So why not be open

Out

At least with your nearest

dearest

us?

When I die my next of kin won’t

unknowingly

accidentally

say something untrue at my funeral

Hey Mom

Hey You

Death is final

Pride is forever

If you want it to be

Say it

Tell us

ABOUT THE POEM

Apart from being an attempt to put complex and ambivalent emotions into words, this poem is first and foremost a call to other LGBTI+ people to, if at all possible, at least be open towards those closest to you. If not for your own sake, then for the sake of others.