Sailor's Song Poetry

In 4th grade, you're asked if you support "gay" people.

Not understanding, you reply that you support "happy" people.

In 5th grade, one of your friends comes to school with a buzzcut.

You don't understand why, and "she" won't give you a straight answer.

Later that year, you see "her" and a mutual friend kiss behind a tree.

"They're such a couple," That you understand.

In 6th grade, you begin to believe that you have to "hate the sin, love the sinner"

But your friend is asking you if you're gay after telling she thinks she's bi.

Later that year, half your grade thinks you and your guy best friend are a "cute couple"

You only last a month "dating"

That summer you spend a lot more time with your bi friend.

At her house watching a movie, you're admiring her freckles.

They're a prominent feature on her face in the- 178 photos of her you have?

You tell her you like her, and she says she feels the same,

But it takes her four tries to turn you down fully.

You don't stay at her lunch table after that.

You sit with your new friends, the ones with shorter haircuts and "nicknames."

At your new table you meet a girl,

A girl with odd vocabulary and blue eyes.

The two of you talk more often (and your pan flag is joined by a non-binary one).

At your birthday party, you dance with the girl with blue eyes and a friend remarks that the two of you are practically dating.

Oddly enough, that doesn't sound too bad?

Listening to a love song, her face comes to mind, and you think you might like to kiss her.

A little later she asks to be your "platonic" valentine, your stomach turns as you say yes.

On April 19th, you finally get pushed to confessing to her...

And she feels the same!

You leave lunch holding hands.

But when her step-father finds out, you swiftly retreat to hiding your relationship,

Speaking in code until it's safe again.

In 8th grade, she tells you they're genderfluid,

"pretty boy" is added to your repertoire.

That summer they have to move states,

And they're gone the week before freshmen year.

School feels so much more empty now without them by your side,

Lunch is quieter, the halls take less time to walk, and classes are more boring.