Poet Laureates
On a hot summer’s night in New York on June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in Greenwich Village, which resulted in bar patrons, staff, and neighbourhood residents rioting onto Christopher Street outside. Among the many leaders of the riots was a black, trans, bisexual woman, Marsha P. Johnson, leading the movement to continue over six days with protests and clashes. The message was clear — protesters demanded the establishment of places where LGBT+ people could go and be open about their sexual orientation without fear of arrest. Pride Month is largely credited as being started by bisexual activist Brenda Howard. Known as ‘The Mother of Pride,’ Brenda organised Gay Pride Week and the Christopher Street Liberation Day Parade a year after the Stonewall Riots. This eventually morphed into what we now know as the New York City Pride March and was the catalyst for the formation of similar parades and marches across the world. The Poet Laureates have created poetry for this celebration.
On a hot summer’s night in New York on June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in Greenwich Village, which resulted in bar patrons, staff, and neighbourhood residents rioting onto Christopher Street outside. Among the many leaders of the riots was a black, trans, bisexual woman, Marsha P. Johnson, leading the movement to continue over six days with protests and clashes. The message was clear — protesters demanded the establishment of places where LGBT+ people could go and be open about their sexual orientation without fear of arrest. Pride Month is largely credited as being started by bisexual activist Brenda Howard. Known as ‘The Mother of Pride,’ Brenda organised Gay Pride Week and the Christopher Street Liberation Day Parade a year after the Stonewall Riots. This eventually morphed into what we now know as the New York City Pride March and was the catalyst for the formation of similar parades and marches across the world. The Poet Laureates have created poetry for this celebration.
Pride by Lois Knight - KS3 Poet Laureate
Pride by Lois Knight - KS3 Poet Laureate
1~
1~
For centuries, ‘pride’ felt nothing but wrong,
For centuries, ‘pride’ felt nothing but wrong,
as people on earth would go on and on,
as people on earth would go on and on,
about the way homosexuality would be portrayed
about the way homosexuality would be portrayed
as a sin, not a way to live, it wasn’t okay to be gay
as a sin, not a way to live, it wasn’t okay to be gay
but Earth began to bloom like a huge blossom tree
but Earth began to bloom like a huge blossom tree
the word ‘gay’ started to mean more than ‘happy’.
the word ‘gay’ started to mean more than ‘happy’.
One misconception after another and more
One misconception after another and more
different beliefs were opening all new doors
different beliefs were opening all new doors
now there’s no need to hide anymore,
now there’s no need to hide anymore,
So yes. it is okay to be gay,
So yes. it is okay to be gay,
lgbtq+ will be fully supported one day,
lgbtq+ will be fully supported one day,
but just know that there’s no reason to hide who you are,
but just know that there’s no reason to hide who you are,
in the fear of someone making commentary or acting bizarre,
in the fear of someone making commentary or acting bizarre,
you are your own person not to please someone else,
you are your own person not to please someone else,
don’t be scared to just be yourself.
don’t be scared to just be yourself.
2~
2~
For centuries, being gay was looked down upon
For centuries, being gay was looked down upon
like a frown in earth's core, her feelings outshone
like a frown in earth's core, her feelings outshone
by every misconception
by every misconception
people muddling her words
people muddling her words
to the point she no longer felt understood
to the point she no longer felt understood
her voice never heard
her voice never heard
until other individuals gained more opinions.
until other individuals gained more opinions.
Protests began forming, bringing millions and millions
Protests began forming, bringing millions and millions
of people together who felt the same,
of people together who felt the same,
feeling more confident than ever again,
feeling more confident than ever again,
about who they are or where they belong,
about who they are or where they belong,
because in the end there’s no time for lifelong
because in the end there’s no time for lifelong
debates over other people's lives,
debates over other people's lives,
because we all have our own,
because we all have our own,
all as strong as each other.
all as strong as each other.
Nobody is alone.
Nobody is alone.
Being gay isn’t bad, it doesn’t make you weak,
Being gay isn’t bad, it doesn’t make you weak,
it doesn’t make you weird, nor a freak.
it doesn’t make you weird, nor a freak.
Embrace yourself in every way
Embrace yourself in every way
because nobody’s words will matter one day.
because nobody’s words will matter one day.
Forbidden Fruit by KS4 Poet Laureate
Forbidden Fruit by KS4 Poet Laureate
You’re tall and dashing
You’re tall and dashing
With towering elegance like
With towering elegance like
That of a prince.
That of a prince.
Each petal more precious than the prior;
Each petal more precious than the prior;
Although I know you are forbidden.
Although I know you are forbidden.
The bloom of your smile
The bloom of your smile
Brightens the choke of this dull harvest
Brightens the choke of this dull harvest
And you never seem to miss
And you never seem to miss
The shallow pip in which you grew.
The shallow pip in which you grew.
I crave the taste of your floral kiss.
I crave the taste of your floral kiss.
The one I begged along the hay I knew.
The one I begged along the hay I knew.
Although we know it is forbidden.
Although we know it is forbidden.
The scent of your beauty
The scent of your beauty
Enchants these fields and entices my sight
Enchants these fields and entices my sight
With each wandering stare. I promise each pumping pulse,
With each wandering stare. I promise each pumping pulse,
the proposal of your security.
the proposal of your security.
Wrapped in my heart, i swear to you my trust, my devotion,
Wrapped in my heart, i swear to you my trust, my devotion,
My lust.
My lust.
Although they say we are forbidden
Although they say we are forbidden
The taste on my tongue is still warm after harvest.
The taste on my tongue is still warm after harvest.
Your pristine glory like a lantern in the empty field you stand.
Your pristine glory like a lantern in the empty field you stand.
The heat of your passion still glossing through my veins
The heat of your passion still glossing through my veins
Like lightning striking my mind like fresh brewed mead.
Like lightning striking my mind like fresh brewed mead.
I trade my sanctuary for your safety.
I trade my sanctuary for your safety.
My tears for your laughter.
My tears for your laughter.
You fill me up with sugar and sincerity,
You fill me up with sugar and sincerity,
Yet I still crave more.
Yet I still crave more.
Although they tell us we are forbidden
Although they tell us we are forbidden
The empty chest I hold is finally warm.
The empty chest I hold is finally warm.
You’re the fire to my cabin.
You’re the fire to my cabin.
Your presence in this desolate isolation of a world we name i beg you stay in
Your presence in this desolate isolation of a world we name i beg you stay in
So you never forget your value nor the stems in which you sprout.
So you never forget your value nor the stems in which you sprout.
You grow among my branches, my pride and my love
You grow among my branches, my pride and my love
The trust in my chest to keep you from the foes
The trust in my chest to keep you from the foes
Bellow, just hold on my love. Promise you will never let go.
Bellow, just hold on my love. Promise you will never let go.
They toss and turn under your sweetness,
They toss and turn under your sweetness,
Drooling for a taste of what’s above.
Drooling for a taste of what’s above.
They want us bled and bottled, beheaded on display like mead.
They want us bled and bottled, beheaded on display like mead.
Although we refuse to be forbidden
Although we refuse to be forbidden
My first, last and only rose to grow among this field of hay,
My first, last and only rose to grow among this field of hay,
So tender and taught with a face worth display,
So tender and taught with a face worth display,
Your colours possesses the strings of my heart
Your colours possesses the strings of my heart
And I pray my soul will be yours to keep.
And I pray my soul will be yours to keep.
Marsha P. Johnson
Marsha P. Johnson
Brenda Howard
Brenda Howard
