Artwork © Eric N. Peterson

 

Form: Quintilla into Ghazal

Mis abuelos, tios, y primos
gathered around for thanksgiving
dinner seventh grade me knowing
That they would be accepting of
their nieta, sobrina, y prima
                     …
My mother’s side of the family was different
How is one supposed to tell devoted Christians that I’m gay

I couldn’t get the courage to do so
But the only way I could ever be free was to tell them I’m gay

I wasn’t there, I had my mom tell my grandma
I didn’t want to see her reaction to me being gay

I got a text later on saying that
she still loved me even if I’m gay

My grandma spread the news to my grandpa
My uncle’s family was harder to tell that I’m gay

My uncle married into a family that runs a church camp
I went a few years but quit once I realized I was gay

I hadn’t felt welcomed there. Later down the road after
I told my aunt and uncle that I was gay

And then they stopped trying to convince me to come back
Still despite being able to be open about being gay

It’s almost a taboo subject they ignore it
The elephant in the room, me a gay

What’s so hard for them to grasp
Is it that hard to comprehend I’m gay

I get that you come from a religion that
Prevents you from accepting me being gay

But we are family, you guys should stand by my side
Or accept that I will leave you so I can go be gay.

Because I shouldn’t be required to retreat into
the closet in your company and act like I’m not gay

 

Nevada Blake (she/her) is a Creative Writing Major at Otterbein University. She primarily writes poetry and fiction. Nevada’s poetry focuses on minority issues and advocacy since she is a Hispanic lesbian, while her fiction ranges from dark fantasy to gothic horror.

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.