Half In / Half Out
As I prayed about that I wrote the following poem.
We speak riddles to ourselves,
proclaiming,
in whispers,
"I am OK"
But strapped to our backs
We bear a wardrobe,
the opposite of that portal to Narnia,
a closet that dumps us into a smaller world,
a cramped, musty place of shadows.
"I don't want to upset my mother."
"My brother will never understand."
"No need to flaunt it."
"It's only a tiny
part of me."
A part muffled in a velvet-lined padded valise,
Jammed in the back of a wardrobe,
besides dusty boxes of dreams and desires,
A place where we speak riddles to ourselves.
Labels: bisexual, family, gay, identity, lesbian, transgender
7 Comments:
this is 100% me. thank you for that poem, and for your empathy.
I like this very much, Peterson. Thank you.
*nods*
I'm passing for straight.
Husband, four kids,minivan, mortgage.
Although, I think the only person who doesn't know is my mother. That too may change. Oldest daughter and I have both taken to wearing Pride necklaces.
Beautifully done.
I often think about some of the folks I have known (and a few I've dated) who were not or only partially out of the closet. I feel bad for them because I remember how I felt while I was in... your poem reflects the feelings quite accurately. One of my current challenges is in being more caring, supportive and understanding of those going through this disparity in their lives, remembering that I was there too just over a decade ago.
It is good for the soul and the rest of creation to be helping others across the river instead of running out of water, over the hill, and into the woods full-tilt while leaving others still struggling behind.
Very thought provoking... excellent poem
Thank you. Thank you very much.
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