top of page
Search

THREE NEW POEMS: The Daily Grind, Acceptance, and To Look Up Up To

  • S P Clark
  • Feb 27
  • 2 min read

This LGBT+ History Month (U.K.) S P Clark is sharing 20 new poems to mark the 20th anniversary of this historic celebration of the LGBT+ community and its contribution to society. Each poem celebrates S P Clark's own journey navigating his way through the world as a member of the LGBT+ Community. These three poems each look at different aspects of the poets journey: the hook-up culture, self-acceptance, and continuing to blaze the trail that icons and activists have blazed before.

ree

The Daily Grind

Written to coincide with LGBT+ History Month (U.K.) 2025

 

How little I think of myself sometimes that I seek to find the answers

Seek to find the answers on an app

An app that shows me the nearest place to fuck

To fuck a stranger

Even after I’ve exposed myself to danger

I still go back for more.

 

The daily grind is joyful, thrilling but rarely fulfilling

The daily grind is risky, parlous and how I ended up on the tarmac looking up at the sky so starless

In pain.

 

Oh how little I think of myself sometimes that I seek to find some comfort

Seek to find some comfort on an app

An app that points out the nearest place to breed

To breed self-contempt

Even after the attack I think I’m exempt

Free from the daily grind.

Acceptance

Written to coincide with LGBT+ History Month (U.K.) 2025

 

After foozling my way through life

After meandering between self-loathing and self-fancy

After travelling the distance between living and merely surviving

After peregrinating over the gaps between hurting and healing

I found a place where I could a dance

A cotillion where I could masquerade amongst the boys with glee

A place where I reached acceptance

A place where I could just be me.

To Look Up To

Written to coincide with LGBT+ History Month (U.K.) 2025

 

The source of strength through the ages

The people to look up to

From Sappho through to Adrienne Rich

From Enheduanna to Pat Parker

We’ve learned how to write our loves and right the wrongs.

 

The source of strength through the ages

The people to look up to

From Elagabalus to Sarah McBride

From Harry Allen to Charley Parkhurst

We’ve learned how to hide ourselves and love ourselves.

 

The source of strength through the ages

The people to look up to

From William Dorsey Swann to Frank Kameny

From Patrick Trevor-Roper to Peter Tatchell

We’ve learned how to stand up tall and stand for all.

 

We’ve learned how to look up to those who’ve gone before

We’ve always taken the mantle and carried the torch

Fought for things that are worth fighting for

Will we be the people others can look up to?

We may have no choice.


© S P Clark


You can purchase more S P Clark poetry on LGBTQ+ love by clicking the links below:


 


 
 
 

Comments


  • Bluesky-icon
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
© The works of Simon P. Clark.  Permission must be sought before using any content.
bottom of page