I AM GAY AND AFRAID

 

I am an artist, a writer, a poet, a educator, a curator.

I don’t want to be afraid to call myself those things.

I want to feel like I deserve it.

I want my words to be beautiful.

So I keep writing.

 

I write poetry.

Or rather, I write words

and call them poetry.

Do I have the right?

 

I write because I have to,

and I want to feel like I have the right.

I want my words to be heard.

I want people to nod, to understand.

To hum in agreement.

That’s poetry.

 

I’ve always been afraid that my words have been said already.

That my hurt is nothing new.

We’re all united in common pain.

We all nod and hum and clap to a broken heart.

That’s poetry.

 

I’m an artist, a writer, a poet, an educator, a curator.

I am gay and afraid.

I create to connect, to inspire.

A Hopeless Romantic.

I want to live in a positive and inspiring world.

This is poetry.