dont ask dont tell now boys

tie a yellow ribbon and pull off your wedding band we're solider boys real men. no room for fags only us heteros the military has no business worrying about our partners but we can write our wives and have sponsored marriage counsellors we can snicker about honeymoon anxiety but dont you dare say the word "him" in the way we funnel out the silky word :"her" aloud tell yer friend to watch the international news at five o clock and cry, cry, cry the way all you homos do while he marks another day off the calendar and cooks a pretty little souflee we know you dont need to be reminded to clip your nails you manicure your fingers enough we notice your immaculate hygiene go ahead boy hold his big meaty hand on the street off duty or active we catch most of you in civilian life. rat the queer at the table for two we will be waiting with your homo go home papers now look at her, America ain't she so goddamn beautiful every boy here wants to have at lady liberty remember its just us heteros ya better blend.

— whitetea, May 24, 2010

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: United States, USA

Favorite Poets: Chrystos, Mark Strand, Adrienne Rich, Naomi Shihab Nye, Rachel M. Simon, Donald Justice, Mary Oliver, Nikki Giovanni, Alice Walker, Bukowski, Mary Lambert

Critiques

Beauregard

16 years ago

a bold write

not much else I can think to say. You pulled off the stereotypical homophobic male voice rather well. Kelsey

whitetea

16 years ago

Its still fluffy like but I

Its still fluffy like but I did try to go for that kind of slant. Thanks for reading

Seren

16 years ago

Dear WT

You have left me speechless I am not sure what its totally about i am not american I can only assume you cant be gay in the military there ? if I am wrong I apologise love JayCee x x x ("Quote:-For every beauty there is an eye somewhere to see it. For every truth there is an ear somewhere to hear it. For every love there is a heart somewhere to receive it.-Ivan Panin")

Beauregard

16 years ago

yep

I don't know if it's 'illegal' but it is definitely very 'frowned upon'. It can be very dangerous for a gay man if he joins the military and is found out while he's serving. Something about a man who is turned on by other men seems to scare the crap out of straight men. I guess they think they'll get raped? I don't know. The bigotry and fear/hatred in the world is so stupid. Kelsey

whitetea

16 years ago

ack had to repost the comment

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dont_ask_dont_tell The link broke the first time I commented but it should work now. Don't ask don't tell is part of a law that bars gays and lesbians from serving in the U.S. military. Even taking short returns to civilian life, if the military finds out you have a partner,you get let go with homosexual discharge written in all caps on your release papers. Former Lt. Dan Choi said he was gay on television. He was a translator for the military which is something the military here does not have enough of. He was almost immediately discharged. Almost 12,500 gays and lesbians have been discharged because of their sexual orientation I've spoken with gay veterans who said they were afraid to hold their partners hands in public out of the fear that they might be recognized. Its sad. I've signed petitions, called lawmakers, and written postcards voicing my opinion that this kind of discrimination is wrong. Its up for review very soon and I hope to see it be repealed. It made me smile that you haven't heard of this that's a good thing, I think its wonderful that Australia does not have a discrimination policy like this. Thankyou Jayne I watched a documentary on this, I was shocked and very touched to see the British military march down the streets during a gay pride celebration in England. I was surprised.

Atticus

15 years 11 months ago

Spark to a fire,

This is fucking fantastic! Sometimes thats all need be said. best, Nathaniel