Darren White Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

Gay

"Mum, he's gay", I look surprised, we only play
with dresses, lip gloss and high heels
I wonder why she says I'm gay, what does it mean
I ponder, and hold my dress up high
And turn and twirl in the mirror, wave
goodbye and smile, and jump and land,
hem of my dress in my hand, and look again
This is me, I am small, 
wanting to be tall. "Mum, he is gay"
she says again. "But, what is gay?"
"That doesn't matter sweetie, you stay
exactly the way you are, and dance for me"
And that I do, mum, 
watch and see, I dance for you,
I dance for you, I'm wearing skirts,
And I love you.

***

October 17, 2016

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Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart April 6, 2017 at 12:26 PM This is wonderful! :) hugs mo Darren White April 6, 2017 at 12:34 PM Thank you :)

Carol B. October 23, 2016 at 10:44 PM Love your mom and I love you for sharing this piece :) It's so important to be true to oneself. A heartwarming piece :) A fav. Darren White October 24, 2016 at 1:45 AM Ohhh, thank you :D It's a very dear memory.

Tim Smith October 20, 2016 at 12:37 PM Great words from Mom...just be the best you Darren White October 20, 2016 at 2:40 PM Thanks Tim, yeah, I'll be the best me :)

Andrea Dietrich October 19, 2016 at 3:41 PM I love the way you showed your innocence as a child in light of what the person was saying about you. I am glad that your parents are accepting, since some are not. I really like this neat little poem Darren White October 19, 2016 at 3:47 PM Thank you Andrea, it's a sweet memory :)

Probir Gupta October 18, 2016 at 6:57 AM Nice expressions ... interesting images ... enjoyed ... Darren White October 18, 2016 at 7:03 AM Thank you very much, it is a dear memory :)

Jan Allison October 18, 2016 at 3:03 AM Loved the imagery of you dancing and the dresses and makeup - it was just so natural the way you described it and also so innocent. How wonderful when parents accept their child's sexuality - be proud of who you are Darren. We had gay kids and transgender kids where I worked and I accepted them for who they are. :-) hugs jan xx Made me think of Tom Robinson's glad to be gay:-) Darren White October 18, 2016 at 3:20 AM Yeah, it is a memory from when I was very small, and I used it to make a little poetic story out of it. It's from before the grandfather came along. A sort of counter-balance to restore some good in the world. Gay is not something I am ashamed of, it's just part of who I am, it defines part of me, not the worst part :-) Hugs xx Darren.