Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
With lies
I make myself
family deceived
friends forsaken
What lie is worthy of you all?
What contempt as demanding
as a Lover's kiss?
mother who bore me
father who in your violence
fractured me
and in your dying
gave me hope
brother whose own sins stink
like ragged sores
Outed, I’d suffer
your hard stares
the cold conceit
in your hate-full hearts
an army of my own flesh
arrayed against me
and so, with lies
I embrace you
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Writerseye
John Gilbert is a published author, poet and editor. He divides his time between Brighton, where he lives, London, where he works, and Cornwall, where he has family.
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