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Out
This happened to a family member.
Anguish expressed in drooping shoulders,
Pain filled his eyes with bitter tears
He looked away from me
‘But you can’t be’ he finally managed to say
His voice a hoarse croak ‘no one in our family
Has ever been. It’s not possible.
Why are you doing this to us?’
I tried to make him look me in the eye
I failed.
Placing my arm gently round his shoulder I, too, wept
Finally I found the words ‘Father it’s not a disease
It happens. Some people are that’s all
I still love you, I still love mother’
‘Love’ he whispered his despair palpable
‘If you loved us you wouldn't be that way’
I knew then I was lost to him
That I would have to leave for ever.
Anguish expressed in drooping shoulders,
Pain filled his eyes with bitter tears
He looked away from me
‘But you can’t be’ he finally managed to say
His voice a hoarse croak ‘no one in our family
Has ever been. It’s not possible.
Why are you doing this to us?’
I tried to make him look me in the eye
I failed.
Placing my arm gently round his shoulder I, too, wept
Finally I found the words ‘Father it’s not a disease
It happens. Some people are that’s all
I still love you, I still love mother’
‘Love’ he whispered his despair palpable
‘If you loved us you wouldn't be that way’
I knew then I was lost to him
That I would have to leave for ever.
Published 23rd Nov 2015
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
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The author encourages honest critique.
23rd Nov 2015 11:34am
One of the better poets on this forum once told me this...
"The objective is to be
utterly human
on the page"
You Mr Cat, have done that, you have been utterly human on the page.
Thanks for the read.
Exceptional stuff this!
Al
;)
"The objective is to be
utterly human
on the page"
You Mr Cat, have done that, you have been utterly human on the page.
Thanks for the read.
Exceptional stuff this!
Al
;)
24th Nov 2015 00:27am
Yikes, happened with my uncle and his father. I am assuming we are talking about homosexuality.
It's tough, can't imagine my son doing anything I couldn't love him through.
It's sad we aren't all utterly human to one another, especially as poets, deep feeling, sensitive people.
Supposed to have a keener compassion and understanding about what words can do, how much they can deeply hurt and effect another soul.
But we fail miserably at times.
Great write love
Big kisses all over kitty cat
Jennifer
It's tough, can't imagine my son doing anything I couldn't love him through.
It's sad we aren't all utterly human to one another, especially as poets, deep feeling, sensitive people.
Supposed to have a keener compassion and understanding about what words can do, how much they can deeply hurt and effect another soul.
But we fail miserably at times.
Great write love
Big kisses all over kitty cat
Jennifer
24th Nov 2015 00:30am
Thank you Jennifer when my sister came out in the early sixties attitudes were very different. 'Why don't you find a nice man to cure you?' was the sort of ignorant remark she had to endure.
Always glad to have you comment on my work baby.
Always glad to have you comment on my work baby.
24th Nov 2015 8:48pm
Oh honey, what a write! Speaking from experience with my brother, I think when your family turns its back on you, its like the whole world is against you. We always knew he was gay, we were waiting on him to tell us and when he did, we embraced it the second the words slipped from his lips. I come from a huge family and we love hard in my family. We might be a little crazy; kill a few folks, start fights in the church house, go on stakeout surveillance for our friends,....but as a family, we love hard. :)
Thanks for sharing this! We need more voices of compassion in this world.... Xo
Thanks for sharing this! We need more voices of compassion in this world.... Xo
24th Nov 2015 11:02pm
Thanks Rain,
Your family sounds a very interesting bunch indeed I wish more families were like that. This was my kid sister and my old man was born way back in 1902. I guess attitudes were different then.
A product of his generation.
Your family sounds a very interesting bunch indeed I wish more families were like that. This was my kid sister and my old man was born way back in 1902. I guess attitudes were different then.
A product of his generation.
21st Apr 2016 3:34pm
I was hoping for a twist at the end, without it there was nothing new or unexpected in the story or the telling of it.
With the first line stating that this is someone else's story, it felt like you were trying to forestall any questions of yourself being the subject which left it emotionless for me. Even a simply worded, emotionally restrained piece can capture if it's left to speak for itself. By putting that disclaimer and removing yourself from the piece, you also removed my chance to connect with it. Which is a shame because it's a sadly oft told story and one that I would usually connect to.
With the first line stating that this is someone else's story, it felt like you were trying to forestall any questions of yourself being the subject which left it emotionless for me. Even a simply worded, emotionally restrained piece can capture if it's left to speak for itself. By putting that disclaimer and removing yourself from the piece, you also removed my chance to connect with it. Which is a shame because it's a sadly oft told story and one that I would usually connect to.
24th Apr 2016 7:41pm
Hi,
Thank you I hadn't looked at the poem in that light. I wasn't intending to put in a disclaimer but an explanation because I wrote it in the first person. I do, however, see what you mean. The person involved was my dear sister I suppose I wanted to be honest but buggered it up in doing so. In light of the other comments I can see that you're in a minority of one. That of course in no way invalidates your opinion. We all see things differently and your view has been taken on board. Grateful thanks for the honesty of your comment.
Tony
Thank you I hadn't looked at the poem in that light. I wasn't intending to put in a disclaimer but an explanation because I wrote it in the first person. I do, however, see what you mean. The person involved was my dear sister I suppose I wanted to be honest but buggered it up in doing so. In light of the other comments I can see that you're in a minority of one. That of course in no way invalidates your opinion. We all see things differently and your view has been taken on board. Grateful thanks for the honesty of your comment.
Tony
