deepundergroundpoetry.com
The Straights
I always feel their eyes on me.
Wanting to know what I am, how I work,
as if they'd like
to take me apart
and analyse the bloody cogs.
But more than this,
they'd like to fix,
to make me something they
can fuck or kill, or just sit by and watch
as I go up in flames. And light a cigarette,
and grin, and say
"I always knew, of course...
can always tell with poofs."
Wanting to know what I am, how I work,
as if they'd like
to take me apart
and analyse the bloody cogs.
But more than this,
they'd like to fix,
to make me something they
can fuck or kill, or just sit by and watch
as I go up in flames. And light a cigarette,
and grin, and say
"I always knew, of course...
can always tell with poofs."
Published 14th Jul 2022
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comments 9
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14th Jul 2022 8:44pm
hello your poem made me think of this video your poem is sad but true
it is especially hard for gay men I think...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVjiKRfKpPI
great write...keep your head high...
it is especially hard for gay men I think...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVjiKRfKpPI
great write...keep your head high...
14th Jul 2022 9:41pm
Ah, yes, someone showed me that video years ago. It has a lot of truth in it. x
14th Jul 2022 9:53pm
This made me so cross on your behalf, especially about what some of those guys want to do to you. As for analysing your brain... well, we're all the same really, aren't we? Everyone needs to be loved, and understood. I'm just sorry that life has to be so complicated. Love and light.
14th Jul 2022 10:04pm
Thank you for your kind comment. There are of course a lot of wonderful “straight” men in this world, probably about the same as there are wonderful gay, bi, whatever men, but this poem was written in analysis of a certain type of male attitude I’ve come across. x
14th Jul 2022 10:07pm
I totally understand. Sexual orientation has nothing to do with being a pleasant person, or not. I fear that this sub-section of straight men strongly overlaps with those that also abuse women and ethnic minorities.
14th Jul 2022 10:10pm
I would say so. I’ve always suspected that homophobia is born of misogyny. It’s a straight male horror of being treated/acting like a woman.
14th Jul 2022 10:11pm
I feel a bit idiotic to be suggesting something so simple, but WHY CAN'T WE ALL JUST BE NICE TO EACH OTHER?!
14th Jul 2022 10:17pm
Fear, mostly. I don’t worry about it as much these days. There’s a saying among gay men that we only learn to process ourselves in our thirties. That’s not great, of course, and throughout history many LGBT people (as well as “difficult” women) haven’t made it that far, but when we do survive we process a hell of a lot more than many more socially normal people do, and arguably lead richer lives.
14th Jul 2022 10:19pm
