Overdue

White and Blue, 

pause

When painting my flag,

do I add the red stripes?

Brush upon cheek, 

but just on the right.

What’s left is a canvas

to parade all my might.

Who said only one? 

Turquoise, shine bright. 

Polaris, my star, 

my guidance, my light. 

The love shared for both, 

shall surely accrue. 

And, I must say, 

accepting myself is long overdue. 

Like the library book, 

I’ve read half through, 

the end is unknown, 

but decidedly true. 

Esther Khalid