POETRY BY ...KEITH


While I, erm, get a proper site together, I'm using this blog to share a few poems that I've either performed a few times and get asked about a lot, or others that I never get to finish, or never make it to the stage.

Check out my bio (there's a link somewhere here) for more info about me, and http://www.zoneonetosix.blogspot.com/ for gigs, random thoughts, poetry I'm writing right now, and more
non-poetry related stuff.

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Tuesday 1 June 2010

A Gay Poem

They asked me if I had a gay poem
So I said "Straight up, no!
"My poems don't meander between straight lines
My poems don't mince their words
Or bend
Or make queer little observations"

They asked me if I had a gay poem
So I answered honestly
That, no, I didn't have any gay poetry
And even if, unthinkably, I did
What would it say about me?

I mean, even presenting the question
Puts me in a precarious position
And how would I even begin to broach the subject
With my own creation?

Like... "Excuse me, poem, are you gay?
Have you grown up contrarily to what I wanted you to say?
I most certainly didn't write you that way
Was it something I said, something I did that turned you?
Maybe I should have peppered your verses
With sport, girls and beer
Maybe as your author I deserted you...
Or did another writer turn you queer?"

Ok, let's say, hypothetically, that this poem is gay
Maybe it's just a confused poem that needs straightening out
Maybe I could insert verses from Leviticus
Speak over it in tongues
Douse it in holy water
Recite it the Qu'ran
Give it a beat, beat, beat
Boom box blasting out in the street
"Batty poem fi dead, batty poem fi dead
Rip up chi chi poem inna shred"

They asked me if I had a gay poem
And I answered "No"
But the truth is I didn't know
Until one of my very own poems stepped up
And tapped me on the shoulder
It said, "Look here Dad/Author
I'm now that much bolder
And I'm not confused
And not alternative
And even though the words I choose to marry with
Make me different
It don't make me any less eloquent

"I don't need to be overly elegant
So maybe that's why I stepped under your gaydar
But why are you so afraid to embrace it?
Face it! It's just another part of me
You can't erase it

"The more you try to label me with your twisted synonyms
The more you say you hate the sinner
And despise the sin
The more you try to clip my words
And stifle my expression
The more I know it's you, not me,
Whose morality should be called into question"

They asked me to read out a poem
They said, "Choose one of your strongest
One of your best
Choose a poem that don't stand for any foolishness"
And they asked me if I had a gay poem...
So I said
Yes.

4 comments:

  1. Im a competitor in speech and debate and I would love to use A Gay Poem in one of my pieces but I can only use it if it is officially published somewhere. Is there a Book that includes that poem? If you could be please let me know at eliselittleba@gmail.com I would really appreciate it. Thank you.

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    Replies
    1. I actually have the same exact question as Elise Little. I am in love with your poetry and it would be an honor to preform this. Would you please email me at nataliemarie173@gmail.com

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  2. I have the same question as Elise Little as well. It is a wonderful piece, that I would like to perform at state and districts. If you could please email me at mfskater@gmail.com about where it may be published that would be fantastic.

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  3. This is an amazing poem not only written but when recited correctly I have seen this done at A speech and Debate competition and it is so very amazing to hear this poem.

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