To Matthew Shepard: The Unwilling Representative of a Greater Issue

Beautiful boy, why do you cry? Do you feel so alone even with friends in the sky? The moon and the stars bathe you in grace, Before the sun sends its rays to kiss your sweet face. You cry now, in anguish, they're unsure what to do, they're all in dismay they weep now for you. The cool autumn day, the scent of the pine mixed in with the sagebrush- the sweet smell, so fine The wind that has carried and blown far for you whispers its sadness to the rest of the crew But the greatest presence that your tears can afford Is a friend you've always known, a friend called the Lord. For His love, He is crushed, His child is torn How could other boys do this out of mere scorn? Beautiful child dragged through the street beaten, then tied and then left to meet his doom, his own end, an unwillful martyr made unable to fight and then beaten harder But beautiful boy why do you cry? Your friends, your supporters- the numbers are high! But the darkness comes too, it marches in hate to spew forth its venom, it can't even wait They scream and they lie till their faces are red As you lay there in anguish on your last bed. Their signs and their slogans, freedom, with support to keep YOU from freedoms, deciding whom you can court It's vile, it's wicked, then there's this drag You've had enough torture without the word Fag. Fear not dear, sweet boy there are many who fight for you As there are those who have hate, there are those with love too. Amazing, great people who have put on these wings to make an actual wall to shield your family from the stings The hatred, the anger, the reverend that fights Held back by these Angels, these people in tights. GOD DOESN'T HATE FAGS HE LOVES US ALL There's love and there's hate but none, you can see but you've made an impact on thousands, made an impact on me. You started a movement that you never will see because of hatred and murder, fueled by bigotry. I think that I love you but I'll never know Gay, straight, or friendship- what was once unlikely, now impossible. Beautiful boy, I know why you cry Thick, warm blood covering every inch of you face, I know why you cry Your body destroyed, cracked bones puncturing through flesh, I know why you cry Tied to a fence, bloodied hands in makeshift handcuffs, tears streaming, mixing with blood, I know why you cry Left alone in the bitter cold to suffer through the night, wind hitting your face more bluntly than the butt of the pistol that struck you repeatedly, I know why you cry. More bitterly than the fist that kissed your cheek and ravaged your body for, seemingly, an eternity, with no remorse, unprovoked, fueled by Malice, I know why you cry Yes dear, sweet, beautiful boy, I know why you cried You were born with these feelings, and for that you have died