A POETIC TRIBUTE TO GAY AUTHORS - 5. THIS TIME

THIS TIME

I've been here before
My head in the clouds
All joy and light
And no dark shrouds

I can think I can feel
Though I still have the pain
Learning to deal
With emotions again

It's OK if I cried
I'm allowed to get mad
I don't have to hide
As I did as a lad

I can't stay up here
I'm flying too high
Need feet on the ground
Not pie in the sky

I've been in this state
But then lost the magic
Sank back to the hate
Bitter and tragic

It's always the notions
Of romance and love
That trigger emotions
And lift me above

With no one to care
And no one to hold
It's too much to bear
Emotions grow cold

This time I have hope
And compasion and care
This time there's the scope
Of all of you there

With paper and pen
With keyboard and screen
I can only live when
I can say what I mean

Nobody's nudging
Nobody's mean
Nobody's judging
Nobody's obscene

You pick me up when I'm down
With your love and your care
In emotions I'd drown
Without poems to share

Here's to your decorum
To your friendly way
Here's to this great forum
This time I'm O K