at Stonewall
by Aricles James
all my ancestors danced at Stonewall
their skin reflecting the shadows within the fire
one Stonewall was surrounded by windowless walls
the other by forests and smoke
all my ancestors hid from the same man
together they danced, hundreds of miles, years apart
forced on journeys down unforged paths
armed with bricks, with drums, with pride --
all my ancestors danced at Stonewall
bodies turned toward the fire
uplifting their voices to the creator
their cries a rising song to keep our stories, us -- alive.
no treaty, no laws, no promises upheld
all my ancestors still dance at Stonewall
in protest, a promise to ourselves
we are unconquered
we are unconquerable
our drums will beat far longer than our hearts do
and our chepota, our children will dance at Stonewall
two spirits live in me
chikasha soya
and i am proud
About the Author
Aricles James is a gender non-conforming, Native writer and poet from Oklahoma. They love their family and their dogs. They have had various poems, stories and photographs published in various local and nationwide print and digital formats.