I Hear You

BY EMMA ONEKEKOU

Isee I hear you I hear your questions I hear your longing for freedom and love I hear your craving for liberation I see you I see you trying to break invisible chains I see fear slowing you down I see the fear of being exposed I see the fear of being punished, the fear of a punishment invented for you Human, like me,your I hear you, I see you And if you see and hear me too, come. You will never be alone again. I hear you. I hear your need for affirmation I hear your need for visibility I hear your desire for expression.love,

I see you I see your actions Seemingly insignificant And yet the foundation of something powerful. I see your gestures, Under a table, in the darkness of a room. I see your love, The one you forbid yourself to live. I see you, in total denial In search of a solution Human, like me I hear you, I see you And if you see and hear me too, come. You will never be alone again. I hear you I hear that little voice inside you: “I accept myself” “I am normal” I hear a heart beating with love for a fellow human being. I see you I see a skirt making room for pants I see two people of the same sex holding hands in the street I am normal I see smiles. Human, like me, I hear you, I see you And if you see and hear me too, come. You will never be alone again. Through your smile, I hear you, I see you Through your gestures, I hear you, I see you Through your expression, I hear you, I see you Through your words, I hear you, I see you. Through hate and fear, I hear you, I see you Through silence, I hear you, I see you Through anger and rage, I hear you, I see you Through all of this violence, I hear you, I see you. Human, like me, Woman, lesbian, bisexual, trans, queer, non-binary, I hear you, I see you. And if you see and hear me too, come. You will never be alone again. We are a beautiful and powerful community Our rainbow flag is a living testimony.