Before the court, the long denied stood still,
as names once split by law were made to meet,
and what the state had drawn against the will
was asked to yield its lines beneath their feet.
Two men, two women, carried what had been
refused in rooms where silence made its rule,
yet here the law was forced to intervene
and name their love no longer as a tool.
The word “marriage” crossed the final gate
and ceased to be a privilege of few,
no longer bound to narrow fear or state,
but widened into something held as true.
And so the past was not erased, but turned—
a door once shut is now a door returned.
-
Author:
Matthew R. Callies (
Offline) - Published: June 26th, 2026 00:11
- Comment from author about the poem: Poem number 26 fir Pride Month. Obergefell v. Hodges is a US Supreme Court case that gave the decision on this day in 2015 that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples. For more context, visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obergefell_v._Hodges
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 13
- Users favorite of this poem: Tristan Robert Lange
- In collections: Decision of the Court, The Continuance of Us.
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Comments2
So well worded this poem starts off powerfully and ends the same way. Well done
Matthew, this is a thoughtful and moving reflection. The language carries both the weight of what came before and the hope that followed, ending with an image that feels both graceful and earned. Hard to believe it's been 15 years already. A powerful write, my friend. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
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