Artwork © Eric N. Peterson

 

You’re Queer Too

before you cancel me
or go into a deep state of
denial, regret and shock

trust that if your lifestyle
was categorized as a lifestyle
an illicit one at that
a persecuted one at that

you would do it too
grab the flag and wrap
yourself in love
you were never given

praying away a small part of
heart that still believes them
even if your mom doesn’t
remember spewing bigotry

at you, for your own good
stop returning to what they’ll say
throw shame as far as you can

into a deep ocean where
safety begins kissing

wounds that never heal
go on to hurt ethereal creatures
so don’t push light away

hold it tight and accept
you have to fight for love
because it’s under threat

I tell the truth
to see it is to know
I love you

 

Juan Alejandro Borge Osorio (call him Ale) is a student at Columbia University studying Creative Writing and Ethnicity & Race Studies. He was born in Barranquilla, Colombia and went to high school in the state of Georgia, considering both his home. He enjoys reading and writing poetry. His love for literature and poetics began as early as he can remember with Juan Luis Guerra or a good vallenato always playing at his grandfather’s house. Music and poetry have always been one of his love languages and a way to connect with his family and friends, especially his mother. He has been published in The Columbia Review and Roots.

Eric N. Peterson is from Atlanta, Ga. He’s been drawing cartoons all his life. He leans towards the absurd, imaginative, and the surreal, as that’s where all the flavor is.