I have just learned that the governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, has banned the use of specific colored lights on bridges during the summer, ie, banned the Rainbow. See story here: Ron DeSantis rings in ‘Freedom Summer’ by banning rainbows. I offer this poem for what the rainbow means to me today.
The Rainbow
When I was born,
the rainbow was a sign
of better things to come.
In addition, now,
the symbol's morphed
into shining paths –
crossing societal skies,
to Freedom and Equality
for groups of people
suppressed, deprived, terrorized
for centuries and more.
A new prism reveals –
in all its banded colors –
individual opportunities
from the arts to the sciences
from labor unions to boardrooms
from farms to classrooms
from athletics to politics
where culture and free expression
is welcomed, cherished
and expanding
what the world can be.
Carl Scott Harker ©2024
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Here is a link to a poem poster for this poem and the cat art – found on eBay here: The Rainbow.