like waves
By: Jim Kellogg
(The Queer Poet)
7-30-24

like waves
eating away at the shore
acrid and biting remarks
ate away at my soul

their mentions
caused tremendous erosion
of my essence
leaving me little choice but to shy away

what was less obvious
to the outsiders
was the intense and malicious crushing
of my poetic queer voice –

the part of myself
that distinguishes me from others
sets me apart
makes me unique –

how dare they
presumptuous, brazen, and rude
leave me
shocked and full of disdain and anger

despite their attempts
to silence me
i celebrate my voice
limitless and breathtaking