NoHoldsBarredPoetryWritingChallenge Day 4: Coming out

I always knew he was a little sweet.
During the Festival of Colors, he emerged
from the darkness with bright splashes
of green, purple, yellow, blue, and red,
clasped the first man he saw by the face
and gave him a fruity taste of the rainbow.

He sticks out his tongue, chanting,
if all the raindrops were lemon drops 
and gum drops...
We spin and we dance and we wave
sparklers to the sky in celebration,
and at dusk, we set fire to the closet
that once confined him.

© 2022 Nortina Simmons

*This poem makes reference to the Hindu Festivals Diwali (of Lights) and Holi (of Colors).