NEW POEM: Solidarity

"Solidarity" has been written to mark National Coming Out Day 2022 (11th October). In a world where in 69 countries you can face prosecution for doing just that, 'coming out', we must all stand together to ensure that no matter where you are born, you can come out in as safe and easy environment as possible - if you choose to come out at all. This poem has been split into 7 sections and includes lyrics from 7 songs: "Ballad of the Sad Young Men" by Roberta Flack, "I Feel Love" by Donna Summer, "I'm Coming Out" by Diana Ross, "Relax" by Frankie Goes To Hollywood, "Constant Craving" by K.D. Lang, "I Love Hardcore Boys, I Love Hardcore" by Limp Wrist and "True Trans Soul Rebel" by Against Me. Hope you enjoy this piece.

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Solidarity

A Poem by Simon Clark

(Written to coincide with National Coming Out Day, 11th October 2022)

1.

“All the sad young men drifting through the town,

Drinking up the night, trying not to drown.”

Scared to look him in the eye,

What if he hates queers?

Keeping truth like secrets,

Hidden for many years,

Scared to look him in the eye,

What if he hates me?

I’ll just keep looking down,

And hope that he won’t see,

“All the sad young men choking on their youth,

Trying to be brave, running from the truth.”

2.

“Ooh Heaven knows, heaven knows, heaven knows, heaven knows, heaven knows Ooh I feel love, I feel love, I feel love, I feel love, I feel love.”

Wrapped in the arms of the one who makes my heart-rhythm dance,

I’m comfortable and safe,

It’s so good, it’s so good, it’s so good,

Supported and able to take the chance but still my hand taps and tips and shakes.

Wrapped in the arms of the one who makes my heart-rhythm bounce,

I’m at ease with myself,

I got you, I got you, I got you,

She sings in my ear as we become one where only love matters; not the shame.

“Ooh What you do, what you do, what you do, what you do, what you do, Ooh I feel love, I feel love, I feel love, I feel love, I feel love.”

3.

“I think this time around, I am gonna do it like you never knew it, Oh, I'll make it through, The time has come for me to break out of this shell, I have to shout that I am coming out.”

Then I reach the closet door and pause,

Take a moment,

Change my clothes – “Oh good God, darling – don’t wear THOSE”,

Hide the tracks from tears that have fallen,

And kick down the door in an explosion of glitter,

The disco ball and padded walls of my cell are now my freedom.

“I'm coming out, I want the world to know, got to let it show, I'm coming out, I want the world to know, I got to let it show.”

4.

“Relax, don't do it, when you want to go to it, Relax, don't do it, when you want to come.”

No inhibitions,

Deny their conditions,

Bend to your own positions,

No definitions,

Ignore their physicians,

Live out your own ambitions.

Fuck who you want,

Love who you love,

And stare down the detractors,

Chill.

“But shoot it in the right direction, make makin' it your intention, Live those dreams, scheme those schemes, Got to hit me (hit me), hit me (hit me), hit me with those laser beams.”

5.

“Maybe a great magnet pulls all souls towards truth, Or maybe it is life itself that feeds wisdom to it's youth.”

If you’ve decided to step into the light,

Then look behind you at the dark,

And help others out of the shadow of despair, if they choose,

Help to stand up for the right to love and live,

Teach how to protest with anger and with tears, preach how to forgive.

“Even through the darkest phase, be it thick or thin, Always someone marches brave here beneath my skin.”

6.

“Bi-hawks and studs are really hot Emo kids whine, but I'll give em a shot Tight pant-skinheads with bodies that stack This whole damn scene makes my eyes roll back I LOVE HARDCORE BOYS, I LOVE BOYS HARDCORE!”

Oh Limp Wrist I so relate,

The pick ‘n’ mix selection of lovers,

To hold and passionately annihilate,

Was exhausting,

Exhilarating.

I kissed him here,

He kissed me there,

I wish he’d kiss me everywhere,

Anywhere – in public – but I’m too scared to show the world,

But to satisfy my urges – I’ll plunge in deep and risk it all.

“Romulin-looking Justin clones got style, But sports wearing edgers are who we'd like to pile, After being with a peace punk in black, We're definite that you're never turning back, I LOVE HARDCORE BOYS, I LOVE BOYS HARDCORE!”

7.

“Who's gonna take you home tonight? Who's gonna take you home? Does god bless your transsexual heart, true trans soul rebel?”

Born in this skin but do I really belong?

Do I sing a brothers words but dance a sisters song?

My hair cut short to signify that I’m a boy,

Is that correct? Is this true? Is it a decoy?

Am I truly contented or just too scared to face the knife?

Am I actually myself? Am I living an honest life?

“Oh, you should've been a mother, You should've been a wife, You should've been gone from here years ago, You should be living a different life.”

© Simon Clark 2022