Queer
Thought I’d make a thread for LGBTQIA+ poetry. Since “LGBTQIA+“ is a mouthful, I’ve called it Queer.
You don’t have to identify as any of the letters of the rainbow alphabet to post here, but poems should focus on “queerness”, which I’m defining as sex and gender exploration/identities outside the conventional. Men and women (gay, straight, or whatever) who enjoy cross dressing, for instance.
My only rule is that you leave anti-queer shit out of this thread.
I don’t talk much about Langston Hughes, but he’s a poet whose work I love. It combines a simple free verse structure with the rhythms and style of jazz music. Jazz fans may like his writing as much as anyone.
Like a lot of queer poets of his era, he had to hide a lot about himself. Especially being a poet of colour as well, having to deal with racism on top of homophobia.
Cafe: 3 AM by Langston Hughes
Detectives from the vice squad
with weary sadistic eyes
spotting fairies.
Degenerates,
some folks say.
But God, Nature,
or somebody
made them that way.
Police lady or Lesbian
over there?
Where?
https://www.out.com/entertainment/today-gay-history/2014/02/01/today-gay-history-great-‘was-langston-gay’-debate?amp
https://www.arts.gov/stories/blog/2014/jazz-poetry-langston-hughes
Man, it's been a crazy year. I'm trans, on hormones with buds growing, and putting out fires left and right.
I'm wanting to change the direction of my work to match my feelings today, and I just don't know how to do it.
Like, a new forum? A new form? I don't think I have to change my work really, it's natural at this point, but I want these poems to reach a massive audience that includes DUP.
It's tough to figure out, but I'm posting a couple if new ones if anyone is interested in critiquing, or helping me out with an audience.
Being Trans is normal for me, and odd for everyone else around. I've always felt like an alien. Being a punk queen is wonderful. Thicc skin required~
You've gotta stomp heads in when tou
need to, look mean when tou need to, and do it with style.
Just remember what Kamina said:
Believe in the me that believes in you
I'm wanting to change the direction of my work to match my feelings today, and I just don't know how to do it.
Like, a new forum? A new form? I don't think I have to change my work really, it's natural at this point, but I want these poems to reach a massive audience that includes DUP.
It's tough to figure out, but I'm posting a couple if new ones if anyone is interested in critiquing, or helping me out with an audience.
Being Trans is normal for me, and odd for everyone else around. I've always felt like an alien. Being a punk queen is wonderful. Thicc skin required~
You've gotta stomp heads in when tou
need to, look mean when tou need to, and do it with style.
Just remember what Kamina said:
Believe in the me that believes in you
Anonymous
Love Poem to a Butch Woman
by Deborah A. Miranda
This is how it is with me:
so strong, I want to draw the egg
from your womb and nourish it in my own.
I want to mother your child made only
of us, of me, you: no borrowed seed
from any man. I want to re-fashion
the matrix of creation, make a human being
from the human love that passes between
our bodies. Sweetheart, this is how it is:
when you emerge from the bedroom
in a clean cotton shirt, sleeves pushed back
over forearms, scented with cologne
from an amber bottle—I want to open
my heart, the brightest aching slit
of my soul, receive your pearl.
I watch your hands, wait for the sign
that means you’ll touch me,
open me, fill me; wait for that moment
when your desire leaps inside me.
by Deborah A. Miranda
This is how it is with me:
so strong, I want to draw the egg
from your womb and nourish it in my own.
I want to mother your child made only
of us, of me, you: no borrowed seed
from any man. I want to re-fashion
the matrix of creation, make a human being
from the human love that passes between
our bodies. Sweetheart, this is how it is:
when you emerge from the bedroom
in a clean cotton shirt, sleeves pushed back
over forearms, scented with cologne
from an amber bottle—I want to open
my heart, the brightest aching slit
of my soul, receive your pearl.
I watch your hands, wait for the sign
that means you’ll touch me,
open me, fill me; wait for that moment
when your desire leaps inside me.
Anonymous
<< post removed >>
Anonymous
“I’ll tell you how we’re wrong enough to be forgiven”
… I mean, that line alone. 👌🏻
… I mean, that line alone. 👌🏻
Anonymous
<< post removed >>
Anonymous
Anonymous said:<< post removed >>
No…. Really?!… *shocked hissing* 🤣
I was reading a bit more into this poem and saw the description “ this poem is as much about the power of telling one's own story as it is about the obliterating silence of not being heard.” and that’s the most validating shit I’ve read all week.
No…. Really?!… *shocked hissing* 🤣
I was reading a bit more into this poem and saw the description “ this poem is as much about the power of telling one's own story as it is about the obliterating silence of not being heard.” and that’s the most validating shit I’ve read all week.
Anonymous
Queer is an umbrella term for people who are not heterosexual or are not cisgender. Just incase you were unsure, hun. 😘
Anonymous
… not today, Satan. Not today.
Anyway, back on track.
i love you to the moon & (by Chen Chen)
not back, let’s not come back, let’s go by the speed of
queer zest & stay up
there & get ourselves a little
moon cottage (so pretty), then start a moon garden
with lots of moon veggies (so healthy), i mean
i was already moonlighting
as an online moonologist
most weekends, so this is the immensely
logical next step, are you
packing your bags yet, don’t forget your
sailor moon jean jacket, let’s wear
our sailor moon jean jackets while twirling in that lighter,
queerer moon gravity, let’s love each other
(so good) on the moon, let’s love
the moon
on the moon
Anyway, back on track.
i love you to the moon & (by Chen Chen)
not back, let’s not come back, let’s go by the speed of
queer zest & stay up
there & get ourselves a little
moon cottage (so pretty), then start a moon garden
with lots of moon veggies (so healthy), i mean
i was already moonlighting
as an online moonologist
most weekends, so this is the immensely
logical next step, are you
packing your bags yet, don’t forget your
sailor moon jean jacket, let’s wear
our sailor moon jean jackets while twirling in that lighter,
queerer moon gravity, let’s love each other
(so good) on the moon, let’s love
the moon
on the moon
The Hug by Thom Gunn (1929 to 2004)
It was your birthday, we had drunk and dined
Half of the night with our old friend
Who'd showed us in the end
To a bed I reached in one drunk stride.
Already I lay snug,
And drowsy with the wine dozed on one side.
I dozed, I slept. My sleep broke on a hug,
Suddenly, from behind,
In which the full lengths of our bodies pressed:
Your instep to my heel,
My shoulder-blades against your chest.
It was not sex, but I could feel
The whole strength of your body set,
Or braced, to mine,
And locking me to you
As if we were still twenty-two
When our grand passion had not yet
Become familial.
My quick sleep had deleted all
Of intervening time and place.
I only knew
The stay of your secure firm dry embrace.
It was your birthday, we had drunk and dined
Half of the night with our old friend
Who'd showed us in the end
To a bed I reached in one drunk stride.
Already I lay snug,
And drowsy with the wine dozed on one side.
I dozed, I slept. My sleep broke on a hug,
Suddenly, from behind,
In which the full lengths of our bodies pressed:
Your instep to my heel,
My shoulder-blades against your chest.
It was not sex, but I could feel
The whole strength of your body set,
Or braced, to mine,
And locking me to you
As if we were still twenty-two
When our grand passion had not yet
Become familial.
My quick sleep had deleted all
Of intervening time and place.
I only knew
The stay of your secure firm dry embrace.
Anonymous
☝️ that is so razor sharp. You almost don’t want to breathe in the second stanza, because the descriptions are so immediate. Not a poet I’d heard of before, so thank you.
