Pride is definitely a party
A celebration
overwhelming, hot chaos and cheers
But 
I see more than a flamboyant 
group throwing rainbows and glitter
I see safety in numbers
thousands of us converging
on the gridded city squares
hoping that together we can have
a moment to find mass security
and judgement free abandon
Where your bosses/siblings/coworkers/parents/friends
won’t ask you
Why can’t you be more like that other lesbian they met
or 
Why can’t you wear something a little more masculine/feminine?
I see
young, old, queer, bottom, butch, top, femme, single, poor, bois, pups, pagens, studs, bears, stone, cis, rich, poly, sober, trans, allies, religous, drunk, married, 
Strangers and friends together,
moving around one another
connecting and not, but
holding each other up
under all the noise
I see us nourishing each other
embracing and confiding
securing ourselves and one another 
caressing our individual fragilities with bold care
I see us, wild human animals
soaked in our sweat and memories
drenched in history and hope
Lions circling
daring the rest of the plains to pounce
I see us standing up, 
rising to protect our 
Pride.