Dear Redmond (and all the Redmonds past, present, and future),

I see your sweet soul, your tender
heart, your arms outstretched,
open to your opponent,
asking if she is okay, checking
to see if
she’s hurt.

I see your softness, the softness
that one hateful person refused to see
even though it is so plain.

I know that it is easy for me
to say, Their hate has nothing to do with you,
when their hate is focused
on you
like a
laser’s
point.

But I must say it
anyway.

Their hate has nothing to do with you.

I know that you did not ask
for this attention.

I know you just want to live
and love
in peace.

Let me tell you, my sister,
I am kneeling
before you

in reverence
of your courage

in honor
of your beauty

in protest
to their protest.

Your candle has already lit mine,
and your flame has already traveled
from one wick to another.

We are not a forest fire, but a camp fire
welcoming you to sit, breathe,
warm the parts of you that have been chilled
by their thoughtlessness.

They cannot snuff out your light.
No matter how tall or wide
they try to build their fence,
truth always finds a way
of shining through.

There is an army
of love
standing with you.
Even when you cannot see us,
believe me, we are there.

Love,
Anne Marie Wells