Dawn of the Orange People

(Photo: Oasis de Fachi, Niger by Jean Luc Manaud)

Under the cloak of darkness, they journey out

of hiding to a secret place that welcomes them.

Tonight, they gather in the greatest of numbers,

abandoning caution, defying all warnings of an

immense release of energy, and coming of color.

The joyful reunion begins to unleash their deep

emotions, hidden so long for fear of persecution.

Suppressed passion rises quickly and intensely,

until the warm desert air quietly, yet violently,

erupts into brilliant, surging, bursts of orange!

The pulsating glow penetrates the evening sky,

lighting mountains, valleys, and the great sea;

waking the world long before sunrise to a new

kind of dawn, too bright to ignore, of a people

wanting only to be loved, and allowed to love -

freely, openly, even in the bright light of day.

~g

(Top photo: Jure Makovec/AFP/Getty Images)

(Bottom photo: John Ordonez/AFP/Getty Images)