Mariah “Beyond Your Definition” Barber

Pride Poem

Looking back through my camera roll, I took a photo on Pride 
With a toothy grin, I’m laughing 
For all the things that tried to kill me and didn’t 
Couldn’t because I be a riot 
Turned March 

For the times they called me and didn’t realize it was a callback 
To how they felt about themselves, for how they gay bashed me to the ground 
But seeds grow in the soil, and this be sunflower skin 

Today I’m thankful for the times they tried to prey upon me instead of pray for me 
But I still be a blessing & the queers said amen 
& the Minister of music walked with a swish in his hip and the altos, sopranos, and tenors; 
All had a gay in their section to lift their voices 

And you better be grateful because queer in church 
Is the only reason y’all sounded good & not pitchy
& that’s why I know I be a god created in her image 

Fact that they called me a faggot, a burning bush & once 
A burning bush was the only way a disciple could hear our Savior's voice 
This body be the bread, so make space at your table & call us again 
This time by our chosen names—call us gods and everything in between 

We took the places you locked us out of and made a new holy altar 
Made clothes out of leftovers—still a snack in them and a meal 
When you ain’t give us a seat at the table, we made capes out of table cloths

Made life out of brokenness 
Made love out of bitterness 

So taste the rainbow 
Not in corporate schemes or whitewashed images of Pride 2025
But in the eye of every queer youth that aged because they decided it does get better 
With semicolon-tatted wrists 

Be proud cause of Marsha 
Cause of your reflection in the mirror mosaic of all the brokenness 
You made smooth stained glass out of
Because you made it despite them trying to tear the rainbow from the sky 

You still all shine

Mariah “Beyond Your Definition” Barber placed 20th in the Womxn of the World Poetry Slam and 19th in the Stonewall International Poetry Slam and co-chairs the DC Board of StartOut, an organization supporting LGBTQ+ startup founders.